Was excited to try this place out after seeing the head chef hanging out with Andrew Zimmern on Bizarre Foods (not that I was expecting to eat bugs or anything weird). After a really long wait, our group of 5 was unceremoniously seated in a room on the 2nd floor with no windows, no view, nothing. Oh, it was right across the hall from the women's bathroom. Gross. Avoid this room at all cost. We were starving so we stayed put. During our interminable wait for a table, I checked out the menu and was impressed with their beer offerings so I was really looking forward to trying some new brews. When I ordered my flight, I was informed that there was only one bartender working and they were slammed so I wouldn't be able to pick what beers I wanted in my flight. Say what? Fail. The shrimp po boy that I ordered was nothing to write home about, but the fries that came with it cooked in duck fat were delicious. My friends ordered the Smoke burger which was fantastic. The patty was huge but still cooked to perfection, and the different cheeses and the brioche bun tied it all together. If I ever come back, THAT'S what I'm ordering (as long as there is more than one bartender working).
(2)
Luke B.
Being from Boston, I had to visit Alewife while in Baltimore. Huge beer selection and we were able to sample our beer before we ordered a full one. The food was fantastic. I had the smoke burger and it was AWESOME!!!! My girlfriend had the mac & cheese and it was amazing. The duck fat fries were to die for! Service was exceptional and they were knowledgeable about the food and beer selection.
(5)
Bex G.
I had such high hopes for this place with their beer list and location. We made a reservation on open table and when they tried to seat us, it was a windowless cave and hardly any light. The whole restaurant was open and the hostess made a comment that they were all booked for the evening. She finally moved up to a room with light. We ordered beer and that was good. If you are going to have a menu with limited food items then they should be good. We ordered the brussels sprouts and fried artichokes for an appetizer for our table to four. When they arrived, not plates were given to us and I saw our server give plates to a table that was seated after us. The fried artichoke hearts were good enough, but the brussels sprouts were under cooked, not roasted and lacked all flavor. I had to fix them with some salt and pepper. Since the server never came to check on us, I had to get up and go ask for salt and pepper because there were none on the tables. We ordered the $16 burger for our main meal it at least filled me up before the baseball game. But for $16, I wouldnt order it again. I asked for medium and the burger was well done. I asked for an extra side of mayo, only to find out that they charged me $0.50 for less than 2 ounces and didnt give me a warning about this would happen. It looks like the chef should focus less on invasive species on the menu and either train the cooks to make flavorful food. Also, dont put a dish on a very limited menu already if it isnt going to be great. By the way, Manny Machado is an invasive species, so they should consider putting him on the menu (Go A's!) After this poor experience, I will not visit this establishment again. For those that want beer, only go for the beer and that is all.
(1)
Dave F.
Came for Happy Hour. Their happy hour consists of roughly 12 drafts (the list changes as they run out of beer), 2 wines, beer mussels, a taco of the day, and duck fries; where each of these are $5 from 4-7pm. While they did have 40 taps for beer, we stuck to the happy hour menu as we were bar-hopping. The beer list rotates, but they seem to stock heavily in stone and flying dog beer. I saw a smattering of random stuff from Yards to Boulevard to Ballast Point brewing companies. From the happy hour list, we had a Terrapin pumpkinfest, hofbau oktoberfestbier, gaffel kolsch, and the taco of the day which was chimi churri flavored. The beers were awesome, the taco was rather bland. A group next to us got the duck fat fries and they looked pretty good, but alas we wanted to hit up a few other bars. Service was also really good. Both bartenders were quick and on top of things. The decor was your average bal'more bar setting. Huge ceilings, kinda divey and old looking. Several TV's also allow you to catch a game if thats what you were into. I'd come back if I was in the mood for trying more exotic and distant beers and maybe try food off the real menu, but the taco was not a good indication of the food if that was the only thing I could use to judge them.
(3)
Patrick M.
Good beer. Lots to chose. Stone self righteous. Yum Good appetizers before the show.
(5)
Elsa M.
Since everyone gets the burgers, let me put ya'll up on game: next time you go, skip it just once and try a salad instead. I can hear you now and I don't want to hear: try it and THEN come back and thank me. I damn near licked the bowl of the Alewife Salad after I finished. Juicy chunks of chicken made their home on a bed of fresh mixed greens, asparagus, and crumbly light blue cheese. Pears lightly seasoned with cinnamon and candied walnuts added some crunch and a bit of sweetness. I paired my salad with a glass of Riesling, which made my lunch break absolutely perfect. I haven't had a salad that good in AGES! I was rushing from meeting to meeting and my server was beyond nice and accommodating to my tight schedule. There weren't a lot of people in there, but I knew that he had work to do as he and another employee were busy getting ready for dinner. Still, he was more than friendly and took the time to explain everything on the menu, which I appreciated. I know Alewife is all about the beer, but the smells of good times and spilt beer overwhelmed me a bit when I walked in. I wasn't expecting it to be that strong in the middle of the day. Eventually I got used to it, but that was my only deduction in stars. I totally get why others (less picky than I, I suppose) gave it five.
(4)
Rochelle M.
Currently in town for a business trip. This place is a MUST for anyone visiting. A very large selection of different beers. Even though I don't drink any, they also have some cider. I highly recommend the Original Sin Cider Elderberry. For atmosphere, it has a cozy pub feel. Clean with an ambiance of a laid back local place. The servers are awesome. The one my friends and I had was a gal named Sarah. She was very attentive to our needs and well knowledgable on the different brews and menu items. The place is a bit above moderate prices, but the food is excellent. Had the empanadas as an appetizer that was delicious that came with a yummy arugula salad and black bean mix. For my entree, I had the fish tacos that had sweet potato fries that first had taken me aback, but worked really well. I normal end up getting the remainder of my food to go, but I finished every last bite. The menu has a decent but small variety of items, but very diverse for people of all needs. My vegetarian friend had the vegetable ragout that looked very good and apparently was because he finished all of it. I'm here for a few more weeks and will be visiting again.
(5)
Jordan M.
Had a beautiful experience here in a crazy snowstorm - the waitress on duty, Elise, was friendly and communicative during this winter armageddon and the food and drink was excellent. They stayed open with a smile in a blizzard and provided a fantastic and chill environment to weather the storm. I Highly recommend Alewife !
(5)
Erin H.
The duck fat fried are AMAZING along with the smoke burger that my husband ordered. I ordered the grilled cheese and I was pretty disappointed, the flavors were good but they were really stingy on the cheese so I ate all my husbands fries. = ) They have a HUGE beer selection and they even let you try a few if you are unsure of what type of beer you would like. The prices weren't bad but those fries are just beyond amazing. We will go back the next time we're in the area.
(5)
Michael Z.
Overwhelmingly mediocre complimented with abhorrent service and outrageous prices. After I had consumed my $9 and $7.50 beers, which were good, but hardly worth the price of a 6 pack of specialty crated or imported beers. My friends received equally subpar service with their $10 coke and jacks (weak) and $10 margaritas which were made so slow that I could feel my beard growing (also weak). Luckily they were strong enough and I was inebriated enough to go without noticing that I had sat at my table for 15 minutes as I spoke with my friends. After ordering I had waited for well over 30 minutes, near 40, (keeping in mind it is dead) for my food which was unimpressive to say the least. Which, of course, I still could not eat due to the fact that half the table was missing dinnerware. I ordered the gumbo and received a Luke warn plate with uncooked rice. The same can be said for 3 other people at my table. I was able to speak to my waitress after 5 minutes and order new food. After another 10-15 I received my dish finally properly prepared and had finished and sat for another 5-10 before my other friends had received their replacement meals, the smoke burger... Which should have been chicken. After being here for 3, yes THREE, hours we had finally received our checks. Which the 10 of us had received in a pile and had to sort through ourselves. Only one of the 4 of us with botched orders had some effort of compensation for their terrible service. After paying the check, cards and bills were improperly matched and charged wrong. I'm exhausted, I'm done, I'm paying and cutting my loses and never coming back. If you heat your home by burning money and love going places to be ignored and charged steep prices for something you can prepare at home in half the time for a quarter of the cost, then this is the place for you.
(1)
Colleen D.
I think my husband and I fell in instant love with this place. It's in easy walking distance to the pier and touristy downtown but doesn't seem to be primarily a tourist destination. The ambiance is nice- warm wood, rustic and casual, but definitely clean and fun. There are a few TVs (showing the Ravens game, of course), and huge chalkboard listings of the beers on tap to supplement the huge menu of offerings. I'm going to come out and say it- I'm not a beer person. I've tried, and I like to experience new beers, but I'm still not that into it. I do, however, appreciated quality and I was impressed by the offerings of crafted brews. My husband (who IS the beer snob) was over the moon with it all. I stuck with the house cocktails, trying the Re-Root: a rootbeer liqueur with vodka and Baileys... It was the perfect adult rootbeer float with a nice, sharp kick to it. The cocktail selection is unique and varied and I'm excited to go back and try more.at What I was most excited about was the menu. We're new to the area and I'm always suspicious of the quality of vegetarian offerings. Alewife nailed it! No sad wilted salads and pasta primavera for me. I had an amazing grilled cheese (goat milk cheddar, arugula, an tomato jam) paired with a smoky, robust soup. It was like heaven. The menu also offers some delicious salad options, a black bean burger, truffle mac and cheese, and a stuffed chile relleno (which I plan on trying the next time in although the mac and cheese is mighty tempting...) They offer lunch and dinner menus. The prices are definitely worth the quality. The servers and staff are attentive, knowledgeable, an friendly. This is definitely going to be a spot of multiple returns and bringing friends and family to when they come visit the area!
(5)
Jonathan S.
I've been to Alewife many times and normally have a good time. They have a decent, ever-changing beer selection and excellent food. But the service is typically subpar, and my last experience there was terrible (see below). A group including myself were attending a 7:00 O's game, so we went to Alewife beforehand and were seated at 5:30. The restaurant was busy, but no more than usual. We waited 10 minutes for service, and put in our food orders at 5:40. At 6:30 (1 hour after we were seated) we were told the food would be 5 more minutes. It wasn't until 6:55, nearly 1.5hrs after we arrived, that the food came out. By then it was too late, and we had to leave without eating in order to make the O's game. The experience was extremely disappointing, as I have been going to Alewife for a number of years. Being busy is no excuse b/c 1) it is ALWAYS busy, and 2) three tables seated after us got their food 15min before us. The wait staff provided many excuses, but no solutions or apologies. I will not be back for a while.
(2)
Chris F.
Yummy food, quick service and nice ambiance. It can get a bit loud and boisterous, but it's a bar, so waddya expect? Fries are good, duck fat or not, burgers are good, fish is cooked right. Those that drink enjoy the beer selection. Love that they put invasive species on the menu. And they are yummy!
(5)
Corey M.
Can I get a witness! Church! A church indeed; Alewife is a beautifully renovated house of god. And if the man upstairs wanted to have anything, it's a delicious gastropub for all your gluttonous and sinful needs. A long and colorful selection of beers can been seen artfully displayed on a chalkboard hanging up high on the wall. No happy hour, but more than reasonably priced booze. Loads of great options for food. Somethings they were out of or weren't serving due to the quality of the ingredients. I appreciate that. It's nice to know the chefs/bartenders are looking out for you! Great and super personable server. Perfect post inner harbor experience. Already recommended to friends. And what's the best part? You're can do as the bawldymoreans do and mebbe 'lax by the wooder ron th' in'r habah!
(4)
J K.
Went for lunch on Sunday March 2 before our 1pm show at the hippodrome. Seated at 11:35 - fairly empty. Finally ordered our food from the inattentive waitress at 11:50. It was approaching 12:30 and we were getting nervous about our food. Others seated after us had ordered and finished eating. Asked waitress about it at 12:30, and she said she would check on it. Said that they were getting slammed - yes it got busy after we ordered our food. We wanted to meet the manager and we were directed to talk with the bartender who really didn't care one bit. "I'll check on the food," he said while not making eye contact and not doing anything about it. Food finally showed up at 12:45 which we wolfed down and paid and left. Staff were rude. Never offered to fix the situation. Never offered an explanation. So we were there for over an hour before we got our food. And almost late to the show. Majorly disappointing. The worst part is that the bartender and waitress didn't give one flying eff.
(2)
Maura g.
We made a reservation at 8pm Saturday, when we arrived we were greeted by a friendly hostess who was aware of the reservation and told us we had the "best seat in the house". She guided us to the staircase where we were stopped by a very nasty waitress who was extremely rude to the hostess and didn't want us to sit in her section because she didn't want any more tables. The hostess guided us back down the stairs and our "best seat in the house" turned into a tiny table on a shared bench right by the front door and cold air. Although the location was now pretty much the worst in the house, we may have been better off. Our waiter was very pleasant and knowledgeable about the on tap beers and was even able to find one I liked, someone that usually would avoid beer. We ordered the braised pork and the airliner chicken for our meals, but we're not impressed, neither were very good or even butchered correctly, however everyone around us that had bar food loved it and it all looked and smelled amazing. I will probably try the place again, but stick to the bar menu and avoid the nasty waitress who walked around scoffing at people the entire time.
(3)
Dan A.
Decided to come here for lunch the other day as I really wanted a beer (yeah, it's been that kind of a week haha). Heard good things about this place but never had the chance to check it out... Anyways, Alewife is located in the same building Lucy's Pub used to be in.... this is a good thing because the building is absolutely beautiful! I ordered the Smoke burger (medium done) there with duck fat fries ($3 extra) and a Dogfish Head My Antonia. For some reason the menu states that the smoke burger may take extra time to make... Not sure exactly why that is but just thought I'd throw it out there... Nevertheless, the food came out in a reasonable amount of time (15-20min). The portions looked small initially but it's actually quite filling. The burger came closer to medium-well than medium (there was no pink at all in the meat) but it was still very moist. A good amount of bacon was stacked on the inside and there was a slightly spicy aioli n the burger as well. Would have preferred a tad bit more of the aioli though as the flavor wasn't readily noticeable. Overall, it was a pretty solid burger, though it wasn't particularly amazing in my opinion. The duck fat fries were okay. They were a little bit on the saltier side of things and were a little thicker cut. I'd have preferred the thinner, crunchier duck fat fries from B&O Brasserie or Brewer's Art though. The beer list there was pretty substantial. Not as much as Max's in Fells Point but it was still a very solid list with many great craft options. The DFH My Antonia was a pretty solid beer to pair with the duck fat fries by the way. Unfortunately, the only problem here is that the food seemed a little overpriced here. My burger, duck fat fries, and beer lunch turned out to be $25 (NOT including tip)! Now, I don't mind paying a lot of money for food if the quality is good... And dont get me wrong, Alewife has good food.... But I didn't feel that Alewife's food deserved to command such a high price...especially considering you could get the all-you-can-eat steak lunch at Fogo De Chao for a few bucks more. My beer craving may have been satisfied....but I also left somewhat disappointed. 3.5 stars rounded down to a 3.
(3)
David Z.
Had a huge selection of draft and bottled beers to choose from. They let you sample the draft beers before choosing which made selecting easier. Ordered the smoke burger with duck fries and enjoyed every bite of it. Also, they played very chill music such as Sublime, RHCP, etc and had cool art displayed throughout the place.
(5)
Jack Straw S.
I was working at the convention center and was looking to escape and found myself walking towards the Hippodrome and there is the Alewife. Its a stinky alehouse that had a good beer selection but I was there to eat. I had the Smoke Burger with Duck Fat Fries. The Burger was awesome cooked to medium rare perfection, super juicy and great flavor in the meat and the bacon and cheese made it mouthwatering.....and it was huge. The duck fat fries sucked !!! They were cold and stale. I ate at the bar and it was not that busy and the bartender did not check on me once. I had to ask for my drink to be refilled(diet coke) twice. Overall I would go back for the burger sans the duck crap fries and certainly not for the service.
(3)
Kate F.
Incredible beer selection. We had the thai peanut wings to start, and the sauce that comes with them is just delicious. My fiance had the short rib, which melted in my mouth when I stole a bite, and I had the crab cake, which was paired well with a light salad. We also shared an order of the duck fat fries, and they were absolutely phenomenal. I can't say enough about the beer selection here. The bottle list is extensive and includes some extremely hard-to-find imports and limited releases. Drafts were also impressive, with a great mix of styles and flavor profiles. The only reason I'm giving this bar a 4-star review is the bar service. I waited at the bar for 10 minutes before I was asked if I'd like a drink, and it took an additional 10 minutes to get someone's attention to close us out. Not impressed.
(4)
Nancy K.
This place has horrible food. Three of us each ordered the smoke burger with duck fat fries, and all three of us were greatly disappointed. We all ordered the burgers to be cooked medium but they ranged from well done, to burnt, to charred. The fries were cold and dry, with hardly any duck fat flavor. To add insult to injury, my friend ordered a side of chipotle aioli (for 50 cents extra), and it basically tasted like nothing but mayo. My friend (who used to be a regular) suggested that they must have changed chefs. The one saving grace was that the bartender confirmed our suspicions and admitted that there was a new cook. He then recommended that we come back again (but only AFTER 4 pm). So if I ever do go back, I will definitely take that advice... but... as Yelp puts it: "Eek! Methinks not." NOM tip: Make sure you go when the evening cook is there... AFTER 4 pm!!
(1)
Kyle H.
Came here on our anniversary get away weekend. Bartender was super friendly. This place has great history and he told us all about it! My wife's phone was dying and he let her plug it in behind the bar! Fantastic service! We are IPA Fans and the Farmhouse IPA for Flying Dog and Baltimore Full tilt did not disappoint! Definitely recommend this place if you are in the area!
(5)
AM F.
Would definitely come back here again when in Baltimore. Very good beer selection and excellent smoke burger.
(4)
Emily L.
Alewife had SO much going for it when it opened. Gorgeously rehabbed interior. Hugely adventurous beer list. Inventive menu. Unfortunately, poor management and service have spoiled it for us (and those we know) a number of times, but still, the food and atmosphere make it worth visiting on "off hours" when it's not obscenely crowded. Their beer list is justly revered all over the city: 40 constantly-changing taps of extremely diverse varieties. Regardless of your tastes, and even if you think you don't like beer, you WILL find something you love here. If you are pretty open-minded and love beer, as I do, you will feel more than a little anxiety about trying to make a decision. We've never had a bad meal there, either. The burger, for me, is just okay, overwhelmed by all the toppings, and it's never cooked exactly the way we order it (sometimes too rare, sometimes overdone.) Their duck-fat fries are amazing, and get the fennel fries if they're in season. I almost always talk someone into splitting an Alewife salad with me for a first course: with chicken it could be a meal, but even without, the combination of nuts, cheese and fruit atop lightly-dressed greens is a perfect starter before a heavy entree. Calamari is great. Crab cakes are a little too gourmet for me; I prefer the old-fashioned variety with Old Bay and lots of fresh meat. Two entrees deserve their own paragraph: first, the Shrimp Po-Boy, which is prepared exactly the way they make them at the best Cajun dives in Louisiana. The bread is fluffy-chewy, and the remoulade spicy and creamy -- with shredded lettuce and lightly-battered crispy shrimp, it's an amazing meal. Second, the Kobe beef hot dog, smothered in buffalo chili and gouda cheese and served on a pretzel roll. I haven't been here for dinner in quite awhile, but I remember the Airliner Chicken, though it seemed steep, was worth every penny; the fish tacos were also delicious. The management and service problems? In short, they keep firing their best employees, from bar to kitchen. I don't get it, but the people I know who still work there tell me there's a lot of drama behind the scenes, from factions to personal grudges. The servers who are left are pretty inattentive; some don't know anything about beer (at a craft pub?!) and they're all pretty generous with eyerolls if you don't order enough food, ask for a substitution or want to change tables. I wish I could just stop going once and for all, but the food and beer are just too good! So: if you enter with low expectations on the service end, and don't mind a loud, crowded atmosphere, you could really enjoy yourself. Here's hoping they tap into their full potential sometime soon!
(3)
Guinevere N.
The interior is beautiful, the staff are kind and the food is delicious. Pricey, but fair given the quality and the variety. The beer list is high caliber if a bit lacking.
(4)
Brian P.
North Coast Old Rasputin - Imperial Stout. Unbelievably good. WOW. Smoke Burger with Duck Fat Fries for dinner. Awesome. Incredible beer selection for beer fanatics. Many, many on draught and tons of rare beers in bottles.
(5)
Marc F.
Sticky floors, surprisingly decent food, but portions way too small. So wanted to try the beer, but was here for lunch with work colleagues and had an important meeting afterward. Beer breath would have been bad. Ate the crabcake, which was tasty. But way too small for the oversized bun. Salad good too. Alewife must have had one heck of a crowd the night before. Floors sticky and place smelled like my college fraternity house on a Sunday afternoon--carelessly cleaned by a bunch of hungover pledges who put too much bleach in the way too dirty mop water. Assuming the beer wasn't skunked and the glasses are clean, if I could have drank, the sticky floors and small portions could have been overlooked. Because I didn't have the true alewife experience with good beer, my 2 star rating might be a bit low. BUT, don't be open for lunch in a district with lots of non drinking hospital staff. Perhaps better at night as an actually bar or a place for happy hour?
(2)
Modyssey G.
Not impressed. I came here after seeing "The Book of Mormon" at the Hippodrome with my parents and my boyfriend. Our waiter was nice enough, albeit a little snooty, but whatever. The food was sooooo unimpressive. I had read the Yelp reviews about Alewife before going there, and I had read about the smoke burger. Unfortunately when I actually had the opportunity to go to Alewife, I didn't feel like eating a burger so I got some forgettable fancy schmancy grilled cheese and tomato soup. What a huge mistake. There was some nasty minty crap on the grilled cheese that completely ruined it. $12 and some change for grilled cheese and mediocre tomato soup. I admit, that was mostly my poor decision making, but my father and boyfriend ordered the oysters casino, and what a pathetic sight that was! 4-5 of the most measly oysters you've ever seen, fried down to nearly nothing, with a large amount of arugula to cover up how much you're getting ripped off. $16 each and you leave still hungry? No thank you! My mom liked her caesar salad well enough, but not enough to go back. I am a burger freak, but I don't think I'll go back, not even to try the smoke burger. So disappointing.
(2)
K. E.
Trying to check out local beers on my own without straying too far from my convention hotel -- this was a good find. It was too early for dinner, but I tried the chicken liver pate along with my beer selections, assisted by the friendly bartender. All good. Wish I could go back again! Thanks, Baltimore, you are treating a single lady from out of town pretty well.
(4)
A. C.
(11/21/2013) We've patronized Alewife many times over the years, it was a go-to place for gatherings on the west side, convenient to the Hippodrome, UMMS, State Center. We've always planned extra time knowing that the service is slow, but now we're done for good. Went in for lunch, had orders taken pretty promptly (4 Smoke Burgers, 1 Turkey Burger). Over the course of a full hour saw 2 tables receive and eat their food (Smoke Burgers even), pay their checks and leave. No one came to update us on progress or even apologize. When finally asked, the server said that a lot of people came in all at once. Duh, it's lunch time, be prepared. We finally just left and went to Nando's Peri Peri at Baltimore and Paca Streets; quick, friendly, oh, and I finally got to eat and it was delicious.
(1)
Carrie O.
I think that our visit tonight to Alewife easily qualifies as the disappointment of the century. We'd bookmarked this place a long time ago, impressed by the glowing reviews and the extensive beer/ale list, the declarations of the best burgers in town, etc. So it was to our intense disillusionment that the hype turned out, indeed, to be all hype. We arrived at 7pm on a Saturday night, fully expecting to wait for a table (our reservation was for 9pm in anticipation of this), but to our surprise, we were seated right away. The decor IS impressive, I will say that - the old space was renovated nicely and it does look classy. And the service was on point - our waitress was friendly and accommodating, though not overly so. Unfortunately, that's where the praise for Alewife ends. The food was just... sigh, I can't even begin to describe how let-down we felt. LoML ordered the chile relleno plate, and to our shock, they brought out one sad-looking, medium-sized pepper on a bed of tomato sauce and corn niblets. That's IT. For sixteen dollars, you would have THOUGHT he'd at least get some rice on the side. But, nothing. Absolutely nothing. He was still hungry after eating that sad looking thing, and it's no wonder. I felt so badly that I offered to get him something else! (For what it's worth, he said that the flavor was excellent, absolutely divine - it was simply just not ENOUGH.) I ordered the "famous" smoke burger and fries platter - and let me tell you something, if THIS is considered Baltimore's "best" burger, people simply need to get out more. The chipotle sauce was the ONLY thing that set it apart from other burgers that I've had - in honesty, I told LoML that I could probably make a better burger at home, and without the steep price tag, to boot. The duck fat fries were, in a word, atrocious - neither of us liked them at all. LoML had two specialty drafts, one of which he enjoyed and the other he did not. I had a specialty cocktail, the Ginger Grant, which I thought was VERY weak - it was so watered down that I didn't even get a buzz from it, and I have alcoholic drinks maybe once or twice in a blue moon, so trust me - if I didn't get buzzed, there was little to no alcohol in it. We paid nearly 70 dollars with tip for our meal, and I consider it, unfortunately, 70 dollars wasted. To top it all off, I'm laying here feeling rather ill and I have a nasty feeling that Alewife's so-called "gourmet menu" might have a rather large reason to do with that. Needless to say, we will not be back.
(2)
Bob L.
Last night I met with a group for a business meeting at Alewife and it was the best experience I have had here. What made the night? Without a doubt it was the service. Josh was amazing. Attentive, prompt, present, and, yes, he knew the hell out of the beer he was tasked with serving. One of the things I love most about Alewife is their obvious passion for beer. I wanted to give Josh a chance to show me. For my first beer I just said, "Pick one for me." Not only did he nail the first choice with a unique Belgian IPA from Stone called Cali-Belgique he even offered me up a sample of a Flemish sour (a notorious least favorite style of mine) from Allagash called Vrienden. I'm not a sour convert, but it actually wasn't bad. The hits kept coming after that with a Dogfish Head Midas Touch bookended with a Wyerbacher Simcoe IPA. Stunning brews, every one. For dinner all four of us ordered the smoke burger and, as expected, it was gut-busting brilliance. I'll keep this one short and sweet. This experience was exactly what I've been craving from Alewife and thanks to Chef Chad and Josh for making it happen. Cheers!
(4)
Steve S.
For a long while this was one of the few places really close to the Hippodrome for pre-show dinners, and even though there have recently been some new options opening in the area, this is still a favorite for most. Their beer list is extensive, and always includes at least a few seasonal options, and interesting brews that are not easily found elsewhere (be sure to try their wide variety of pumpkin ales, if visiting in the fall). The menu is consistently pretty good, and mostly made up of more upscale versions of traditional tavern food. The mac & cheese, mussels, and honey-sriracha wings are always favorites. The shrimp & grits, and wild boar sliders, should probably be skipped. The restaurant is located in an old bank building, with really cool architecture and 2 story ceilings. Biggest point of advise: Make sure to make reservations if you want to dine, as the place fills up & gets crowded (almost uncomfortably so), especially on show nights! The hightop table next to the front window is easily the best seat in the house. Or ask for one of the balcony seats for the best people viewing! I have never not gotten the table of my request when reserving on "opentable.com".
(4)
Heidi R.
The smoke burger and duck fat fries were maybe the best burger I've ever eaten. And the fries were fantastic!
(5)
Nicole L.
I've been to Alewife a few times. Friday nights are madness, especially if there is a performance at one of the local theatres. The extensive selection of beer is fun to play with, but my favorite thing about the restaurant is the burger! So good!
(4)
D Q.
Ask for your correct change. Ordered one drink at the bar, ask to pay for it, got a receipt for $7.63. I gave $10, the bartender slapped down $2 change and walked away... hate places that do this, it's incredibly insulting to your customers' money and patronage.
(3)
Helen C.
My friends and I got dinner here to celebrate being done with our first exam - I think this was the perfect place for that! It was such a fun place to be, especially because Monday is trivia night. We were awful at trivia, but it was still fun to try. Everyone liked their food, and a bunch of us ordered the smoke burger. I personally wasn't a huge fan just because there was too much meat and patty was so thick, but of course this appeals to some people and it's all a matter of personal taste. Our waiter was very accommodating of us - a large group of 10 - so I really appreciated that. Overall, I would come back again, definitely for drinks.
(4)
Neelam P.
Nice selection of beers from all around...happy hour until 7pm.
(4)
Britt E.
Great beer selection. Cool atmosphere and vibe. Found the food a bit lacking. Fish tacos didn't have much fish, didn't include a side. Mahi Mahi, was delicious, but portions were skimpy. Only accompanied by salsa and 4 skinny pieces of asparagus. Burger was excellent. Apparently this is what most people order.
(3)
Amy P.
This is a great place for a beer, everyone knows that. It's never crowded, and the hipster-looking dudes at the bar tend to be nice. I've had the burgers and they are awesome, but my favorite is the truffle mac and cheese. The guyere and truffles...with a nice IPA makes for a perfect weekend afternoon. It can get a little loud when they decide to crank up the music or the game, but that's just me being old and cantankerous. My only word of caution is to skip the yucca fries, but that may just be a personal preference. I don't like yucca. They keep their menu updated with new offerings, just like the taps. It is right across from the Hippodrome so be careful on which night you do. But do GO!
(4)
Herman C.
Awesome burgers and a huge list of craft beers. Will come back! The duck fat fries were nom nom
(5)
Rick L.
Wow great place and stellar beer selection. I stayed at The Kimpton Monaco so it was about a 3 block walk. Read the reviews from fellow Yelpers and decided to make the trek I had the smokehouse burger and it was perfect. Extensive draft beer selection....let the bartender know your style and they will point you in the right direction. Bonus...great tunes!
(4)
Ed W.
The Smoke Burger was cooked perfectly. We had one cooked medium and one medium rare and they were executed just as they should be. For only a few dollars more than a burger at any other restaurant, here you get a far superior product. The bacon, cheese, and bun shared the same quality. Nothing was overlooked here. My only complaint was the lack of domestic beers. I don't care who you are, sometimes you just want a Bud Light.....
(4)
Jessie H.
We have been here a few times now, and I have enjoyed it every time. Unfortunately, if tonight would have been my first night at the Alewife, I would never return. Everyone ordered their meals. An entree salad came out in 10 minutes for the first person. My mussels came out in about 15 minutes. The burgers, steak, & calamari came out in about 50 minutes. It wasn't even very busy. And I was not sure why everything was spaced out. My mussels were definitely lacking "muscle". They were very small & "stringy", if that makes any sense. Additionally, i was barely given any "wine sauce" with them, and some toasted pieces of white bread. I could barely get through half of them, they were that unappealing. Husband had the steak. It was probably 1/8 of an inch thick, cooked medium (why this took 50 minutes, not idea). The sweet mashed potatoes had a horrible flavor and I couldn't even enjoy the asparagus. I think he did enjoy the steak, itself, but in no means was it worth the $$. My friend got the calamari, that honestly looked like they only brought out about 1/2 of it. And yes, that was cold too (reminder 50 minutes!). To top it all off, our waiter was quite aloof. Definitely thought he was the bus boy, that had no personality and honestly could care less if we enjoyed our evening. It was a nice night out with friends & we were running late to a show so we didn't even feel like complaining. Although, I left feeling ripped off for paying $65 for a meal we didn't enjoy. At least the wine was good! The only silver lining. I am really hoping this was a one time occurrence, because I would love to return.
(1)
Wes J.
This is a great place for a burger and beer. I had the Smoke Burger, which was very thick and I ordered well done. I was not disappointed. The cheese, bacon, and onions were great, although a little overshadowed by the enormous amount of beef in every bite. It was a really good burger, but if the meat were a bit more tastier, it could have been a great burger. The crowing achievement of this place was the incredible variety of beers. I am from the West Coast and so I am accustomed to a very good beer selection at almost every place I go, so I was very pleased to peruse the full menu page of beers on tap and two pages of bottled beers had top names from all over. Just to mention a few, Dogfishead from Deleware, Rogue from Oregon, and San Diego's Stone, who for my money puts out the best quality product with everything their name touches. So to see Arrogant Bastard, Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, and Old Guardian listed here, made me smile. The atmosphere was a little loud, but it seemed like a fun crowd. We were there for dinner and didn't stay to see the place get crowded, but it's not hard to imagine it to have a very lively night life. I would definitely come here agian.
(4)
Dixon M.
I went to the Alewife with a friend, and we both loved it. The place was very busy, but service was still friendly, efficient and very accommodating. Both of us ordered smokeburgers, and they were fantastic. Cooked exactly to our specifications. The fried were also wonderful. I was curious about beer cocktails, so I ordered a Hop Betty. It was delicious: a citrusy, hoppy concoction. I would definitely visit the Alewife again!
(4)
Liz M.
Got in here around 7:00pm before one-minute plays at EMP. We were asked if we had reservations which I still think is weird for a pub. It was slammed in there, but we inched our way to bar stools next to a couple that I'm pretty sure were doing CPR incorrectly. We got the mussels which some people have said weren't great. These were okay. Nothing remarkable, but they definitely gave us a lot to eat. I got the catfish tacos which were great. The texture from the fried sweet potatoes was needed after the fish was dressed to a soggy mess. Despite having only three tacos on the plate, I was stuffed afterwards. Obviously, people go for the beer. They had a good list of good breweries, but I just wasn't in love with which brews they chose on draft. I should've looked at the bottle list, but after a stout I moved to the mixed drinks. I missed out on the Bacon Bloody Bry(i)an, but everything else was tasty. I really liked this place. It's not in an ideal location, across from the Hippodrome, but I would swing by if I was in the area.
(4)
Tim M.
Stopped in here on a Sunday afternoon before a concert at the Arena. Had the duck fat fries, and the duck confit along with a Dogfish Indian Brown. It's interesting decor - might have been a bank at one time - there is a private table in what appears to have been the vault once. I bet this is a hot spot at night. Wife had the smoked tomato soup and grilled cheese. This is NOT your average pub food - everything has a slight upscale twist. Duck fat fries come with sriracha mayo. Service was good and so was the food - duck confit is pricey $22 for a leg & thigh with 4 spears of asparagus and some risotto. A bit high if you ask me. I'd go back - but I'd rather go if they were located in Annapolis. Baltimore and this location - are a pit. I wouldn't be there after dark myself. Reported not remotely humbly this day, D. Food Snob, PHD.
(3)
Rob N.
Alewife makes great use of it's dramatic bar space. Originally a bank, then insurance company, the tall ceiling and huge amounts of wall space are wisely occupied by monster menu boards, original windows, and a dramatic bar. The food and beer menus are just as dramatic. Forty draft selections, and many more in bottle. Hearty gastropub creations fill both the dinner and lunch bills of fare. Now, I didn't have the famous smoke burger, but I did have a huge serving of duck poutine (duck fat fries, duck gravy, shredded duck, and cheese curd) and s pretty respectable shrimp and grits. The poutine was rich, perfect for sharing with the table, and full of bad-for-you goodness. The shrimp and grits contained some sizeable shellfish, decent cheese grits, if a bit solid - I like my grits creamier, and this was like a heavy polenta. To finish, it was topped off with a tangy, slightly spicy, beer-based barbeque sauce. The beer list is posted on the aforementioned giant menu boards running up to the ceiling on the wall facing the bar. Draft selections change regularly, so it's never a bad idea to ask what seasonal brews are available - they might not be back for a while once they're gone. The noise level can get up there, so keep that in mind. Still, it's a good pour-house with a competent kitchen.
(4)
Joe K.
Back again! And let me tell you a little about my experience. Because of the most recent Google Offers on Alewife, me and some friends secured $50 in food for $25, the only catch was the fact that it couldn't be used for lunch, or before 8pm. One per-customer"table" was allowed. Which made attempting to use this a little harder than it should've been, i even had a friend attempt to use it when he proposed, but they declined him because of the time he entered the establishment. We all sat separately at the bar, but that wasn't good enough for our waitress, as I practically had to plead my case to about using the offer separately. She was nice enough to allow the exception, so long as she got a kick back from it, though I am not a bad tipper she said," you would've paid me well anyways... ," let me feeling uncomfortable before the meal started. The tap list here is second best in the city, and has most beers on or around average prices with Max's Tap house. 60+ total taps and a full bar are still offered. I took a lot more time to choose through their menu with my extra "credit" I had, for starters I went with their Calamari. Which was prefect, and in the running for some of the best I have ever had. For my entree, Shrimp and Grits. I loved the grits, cheesy but not too cheesy with the right texture. The shrimp were huge and plentiful, but leaving the body of shrimp added a nice appearance, but wasn't too pleasant when biting into a left over hard pieces. I would've normally been fine, if there was light to tell what was what in the sauce. Overall good dish. And for dessert a lemon tart, though small it packed a ton of flavor and was light and palatable. All of this, two beers or so, and I hadn't filled my entire credit ($50), I was reminded by an exhausted waitress about how I promised to spend more than $50, some time when we first spoke. A shot of Black Label later and I was barley over $50 by $3 ; which is a great value most of the items I ordered were the most expensive meals on the menu and same with beer. Customer service was fast and good when serving, and not soo much behind the bar. The food was excellent, as always ; and the atmosphere is everything I would want in a gastropub, 3 stars.
(3)
Joe S.
What a great place to have a great beer and some really tasty food. Everyone writes about Alewife's smoke burger, but I went another route and had their airliner chicken dish...wow, what an explosion of flavor that left me wanting to order a second one. The service was also great, I had a dark, curly haired, beer professor as a waitress, I mean she really knew what she was talking about. Thank you for a great time.
(5)
Cornelius E.
I had the smoked burger and it was okay. The grog is definitely a different story. I really enjoyed hanging out one night at this fine alcoholic establishment. It's a beer nerds library of sorts with all the beer selection they have. I cant say the same about the morning after though...guess thats a good sign for the pub.
(4)
Christopher T.
What's not to love about this place? Showed up here before the Orioles/Yankees game with my brother in town from NY. Thanks to Yelp it came up as the closest best brewpub between the hotel and Camden. Thanks Yelp, you really came through on this one. Their beer selection is probably the best I've seen in Baltimore in a couple of visits, it will for sure become a regular stop on future trips. As a visitor from DC I was happily shocked at how low the pint prices were here, like $2 a beer cheaper than the exact same thing in DC, and the kicker, everything is $1 off at happy hour. The staff was incredibly friendly as we sat at the bar, good recommendations of beers to try and just all around nice folks. We liked it so much we stopped back again after the game for a couple more, entirely different staff working, still incredibly friendly. It may be on the fancy side by Baltimore standards but the food looked amazing (though we stuck to beers both visits). I'd say skip the mixed drinks here and stick to the impressive beer selection, taps and bottles both. Make sure to also check out the bottom of the menu where they've typed in their "If you don't like your beer/Go F yourself" policy, so succinctly Baltimore, I loved it.
(4)
Justin S.
Great beer selection, must try the Kobe Hotdog on the pretzel roll. Amazing!
(4)
Ayon J. R.
Respectable collection of draught beer and decent food are the positives. Just don't go during dinner rush....some of he staff shows serious attitude when the place is busy.
(3)
Jeff C.
Bad service and way overpriced. Had wings, quesadilla and duck fat fries; all were very good. However, they were double the price for what you can get in just as good a place here in Baltimore. We sat at the bar and service was bad. Couldn't get a bartender to bring a glass of water, she was too busy chatting with a friend at the end of the bar. And to top it off, she overcharged us on the number of beers we had! Unfortunately, I didn't notice until we had left. Liked the food, beer selection and atmosphere but this place is a rip off with bad service.
(2)
Devin R.
The Smoke Burger was the best burger ever to have passed these lips. Pair that with a very large beer selection and you have the perfect man meal. Try it with the Stone Double Bastard or Lucky Bastard. When i make the move to Bmore this will certainly be one of my top hangouts
(5)
Micah J.
Found this place randomly while searching YELP!! I loved the beer selection however, no Dogfish Head?? They have Dogfish Head 60 Min beer battered fish and chips but no actualy Dogfish Brews? (thats the reason for 4 stars and not five) For a place with such a great selection one has to wonder what is up with not having and DFH on tap or bottle. The building is really cool, its historic and there is some really great artwork on the walls. It is hipster for sure though. Hipster type indie music playing with a hipster crowd. I didnt mind though and everyone there was awsome and the staff was welcoming as can be! Very attentive making sure our beers were never empty. The food was great. I started with the buffalo chicken soup that was nice and spicey. I like spicey foods and my opinion of spicey is usually burning hot for others. So this was a moderate burn and held good flavor. I wish there was more chicken in it though. But its good and I would suggest it if you like hot/spicey food. The smoke burger got rave reviews on here and guess what, here is another one! This is one of the best I have ever had. The caramelized onions, the cheese, the bun the meat, everything about this badboy was just amazing. The duck fat fries with sea salt are a great side for this burger too. My wife had the kobe beef hotdog served on a pretzel hot dog roll with black bean chili and gouda cheese on it. It was amazing (obviously I took a bite or two) it did not even taste like a regular hot dog! Had a certian sweet flavor to it. Overall, make sure to check out Alewife. Great food, beers, staff, atmosphere and overall a great experience. We will be back next time we are down for a game! ****UPDATE!!!**** After writing this review I was personally contacted by the Executive Chef who assured me the reason for the lack of DogFish Head was due to a distribution problem and offered to buy me a DFH the next time I am in. Wow, what a class act. I have never had anyone treat a out of town customer in such a welcoming and honest way. I cannot wait to go back to Alewife now!!!!
(5)
S W.
Dropped in for lunch, it's a quite place at lunchtime. It also has a limited lunch menu. But, not to be disappointed, the burger is top notch. One of the best I've ever had. The burger is served with Duck fat french fries, fantastic. Service was great. Prices great also.
(4)
Ashley L.
I've been to Alewife several times as a late-night-dinner-but-mostly-drinks type of situation and really enjoyed it each time. Other people have mentioned that the food is a bit more expensive than you would expect, but I don't think it's unreasonable. The beer selection is amazing and they have an amazing fall-themed apple cider whiskey combo that I'm obsessed with. I like meeting friends from out of town for drinks there because it's like a polished version of Baltimore grit -- a fascinating combination.
(4)
S W.
My friends and I dined there this evening and I was VERY disappointed with our server. She got my order ALL wrong was not the least bit apologetic and she was rude about it. I sent the order back and she never asked if she could get me anything else then when the bill came she only deducted 1/2 the meal off?! I ate the fries but really you screw up my order then you charge me for the fries I did eat? Asked for the manger but apparently he/she was to busy to come to table. #epicfail
(1)
A P.
Area's ghetto as hell, but beer, burgers, duck fat fries and buffalo chicken soup are great! Close to Camden Yards.
(5)
Michael H.
Great food and stellar service = happy customer. Call it 3.5 stars with a leaner toward 4. Wednesday night visit with wife and daughter, during happy hour, but didn't sit at the bar. Happy hour looked like it had some decent deals to it. This is definitely a beer driven establishment, so take this comment with a grain of salt, or barley: the wine list is amazingly terse. Considering the level of cuisine available, I think it would be wise to expand the list. 2 pinot noirs, 1 zin, 1 cab, 1 Aussie syrah, and 1 I can't recall right now; plus the whites I didn't even look at. All available by the glass and fairly priced. But again, extremely limited. We were promptly seated and the place was 1/3 full at the time (6). By 6:30, the joint was packed. There were two shows nearby (Hippodrome is right across the street, and First Mariner was right down the block) so maybe that's why. Server was prompt and nicely talkative. I wouldn't exactly call it kid friendly, as there is no children's food section on the menu, but the server worked with us to get us through. Our daughter really wanted a burger, and the only one they have is the $15 Smoke burger. While it is well worth the price of admission (both my wife and I got it and loved it) it's way too much for a 3.5 year old. So, we started with the truffle mac-n-cheese, which, to be called "truffle" needs more than 3 tiny limp truffle slices on it. Still tasty, but a little steep at $11. She consumed a lot of that, plus a few pieces of my wife's massive burger. My medium-rare was closer to rare, but still tasty. Could have used another minute on the grill. Wife's medium is what I consider medium rare. YMMV. Duck fat fries were tasty but nothing to droll over. Server kindly hooked up our daughter with a small side of fries, too. Also on the kid-friendly bit, another two couples came in with extremely loud kids and no one seemed to mind; we were seated in the back room which was quieter (as were they; good move!) than the main dining room. There's also an upstairs. Ultimately I'm pleased and will return. I miss Maggie Moore's and the Killer Burger, but Alewife is an able replacement.
(4)
James F.
Great on all accounts. Atmosphere was interesting. Food and drink selection was amazing. Best Fish Tacos in Baltimore(wish they were on their lunch menu!) Five Stars for sure.
(5)
Chris H.
I have been here numerous times and besides the wait-staff being rather unfriendly, had never had negative experiences. However my last few visits were subpar. The burger, usually amazing, came well done despite the medium-rare that i ordered. The blackbean burger, usually crispy, came out a sloppy mess on a VERY stale bun on my last visit. That being said, great beer selection and laid back atmosphere. Apps are all delicious. Maybe stick to happy hour
(3)
Katie D.
Came here for opening night. Didn't get to try any food but I was definitely impressed by the beer selection. I had two beers and the check was around $13.00 -- it does seem a little pricy, but these were good high quality beers! I hope to come back and dine in the future and I am glad to see that new businesses are popping up over on the westside.
(4)
Kat C.
At first, I was concerned. My boyfriend had walked right by the door with the giant Alewife sign above it. And then? I was dismayed - stairs! I tragically had donned flip flops in the boorish heat of summer, how could I traverse such things? But then, as we crested the summit, a puzzling sign. Actually the sign it self wasn't a puzzle, unless you're dyslexic, then I suppose every sign could be an adventure. "Please seat yourself" for lunch? Unheard of! I mean, it's as though they want to have a welcoming, easygoing atmosphere for folks wandering in off the street for lunch! The nerve! We sat at the bar and found ourselves... sitting at a bar. While I couldn't tell you what type of wood it was made of, or the origin of the 3rd lumberjack to slice at it, I can tell you it was a very comfortable bar. Our waitress, bartend-ress, gave us a smile that let us know she was genuinely interested in these strange, bedraggled people who had bumped into the Alewife's state of existence. She greeted us, asked if we knew what we wanted to drink. A deep surprise exploded from my boyfriend's mouth: "It's early in the day, I'D LIKE A LIGHTER BEER PLEASE" as I reeled from the implications that he was not interested in a pint of beer so black that light had only a piece of floss and a thumbtack in order to escape it - our waitress very kindly gave him a few samples of some of their local brews. She then turned to me and asked me if I would also like a lighter beer. Time, my brain, and I think something deep under the sewers stopped. Yes? What would you like? Something... lighter than what he has? Okay, how about... My mind was swimming in beautiful combinations of hops, wheat, barley, water, and eventually agave. While my mind was swimming, my mouth was running on finicky autopilot. With the swift and gentle actions of a woman who knows where everything in her kitchen/bar was, she gave me sample after sample. My tastebuds had to cooperating nature of a rhinocerous with a sinus infection. Fortunately, she eased me into a novel concept. One unheard of for centuries, if at all. A menu. With descriptions of the beers. Hence, I ended up with a lovely brew made with Agave. The lunch menu was reasonable, not overwhelming or overflowing with grease and misery. My boyfriend chose his pub staple - fish and chips. BUT LO - these chips were not ordinary fries! They were - YUCCA! Delicious, delicious yucca fries. Did we know what the hell a yucca plant was? I did, from nefarious studies deep in the recesses of the bio hall in college. The boyfriend? Knew it from Fallout New Vegas. I ordered the tomato soup. This soup arrived unassuming on my lovely bowl sitting on my lovely plate accompanied with a lovely cheese sandwich. When I surreptitiously slurped the first slurp of soup I was not prepared for the SWEET SOUR SALTY PEPPERY UMAMI BACON TASTING HOLY MOLEY WHY IS THIS JUST SOUP?! The waitress, my god she just stood there - knowing. Knowing that we were experiencing pub food that reached deep into us and pulled out our delightfully hairy and wholesome hobbit selves. Have you ever reached your hobbit self? Have you ever been so content with the atmosphere, the food, the beer, the company what you just want to pull out a long pipe, light up some moss, and call it "the loveliest little place in the Shire"? HAVE YOU?! Mulling over pleasant current affairs with your date and the staff, feeling the warm wood beneath your fingers as you push away from the bar, and realizing that your cool beer is still sitting patiently for you to finish it - these are the things that make one have a hobbit meal. Come to the Alewife, and find your inner Hobbit.
(5)
Erin A.
Seriously, in the 3 months I have been in Maryland, this is the best place I have found!! Too bad it is a whopping two hour drive from where I live and this gal likes to drank, so I will rarely get to go! We have been there twice now, once before a game and once on our way to the airport (don't judge). They have an amazing beer selection, lots of IPA! Both times we have been, the bartenders and other staff are knowledgeable about the beer which is hard to find! They will let you taste too, which I like with craft beer. the food, what we have had anyway, is awesome. I have had the chicken salad (really unique and good) and the veggie burger...it is prob the best veggie burger I have had (but I am a meat eater so I don't order them terribly often) My man friend got the smoke house burger both times we went, and seriously had a man-gasm both times! The staff is so nice, and the people we have met sitting at the bar are equally cool! you would be silly not to go to this place, and I am jealous of those who live closer!!!
(5)
J R.
Agree! The best burger and it is worth the wait! Forget about the fries, nothing to brag about, that is why I gave a four star. The burger needs a match. Cozy good crowd, good service, very busy call for reservation it will save you time.
(4)
Abigail C.
I decided to take my boyfriend here for his birthday because he is a big fan of craft brews! I was a little concerned when we first sat down because we were right on top of the table next to us, but this wasn't much of an issue. My boyfriend extremely excited that they had Rogue Dead Guy Ale on draft! For an appetizer we got the duck fat fries with a spicy chipotle dipping sauce, and the truffled mac and cheese! Both were amazing, the mac and cheese especially. For dinner my boyfriend ordered the smoked burger and he absolutely love it! The only reason I gave Alewife four stars rather than five was because I ordered the Grilled Skirt Steak with sweet mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus, in like a smoky glaze and I was not impressed. The sweet mashed poatoes and grilled asparagus were alright, but the Kobe Streak was fatty and just did not taste right with the sauce. Our service was good! The building that Alewife is in was a renovated Bank and it is absolutely incredible inside!
(4)
H C.
In Baltimore on short notice, looked for a place to eat by asking Uncle Yelp (that guy knows all the good places) and settled on Alewife. Here's the nutshell version of what I experienced. It's both very good and bad, bordering on very bad, all at the same table. The smoke burger was very, very good. None of the inconsistent bacon issues others spoke of, cooked just right (med rare) and delicious. The skirt steak though was mediocre, with a weak sauce, and the mashed sweet potatoes were passed around for the "oh, wow" factor only. Not in a good way, sadly. Everything else from the remainder of the food choices our party made to the service, atmosphere etc. was between "good enough, certainly nothing to complain about" and very good, but not necessarily excellent. Beer list is as everyone says, very large, very good quality. Can't go wrong there if that's what you're after. Would I return? Absolutely, especially if I was in that part of town. Would I rave over it, insist others go, and refuse to try other places? No, the inconsistencies were too much. I also would not walk very far away from the front door after dark, but that's a separate issue. Let's just say that if you aren't from the City you might feel more comfortable with a cab than walking to a car at night.
(3)
Chaka H.
So... I'm not the biggest fan of beer, but I may have converted after going here! That have an extensive collection of brews and I chose the Alabash white, and I finished my entire glass. Yeee! The nice thing about their selection is that they give you taste tests in small- shot like glasses. But, beware, read the menu closely! If you order a glass of brew and you don't like it... you cannot send it back, that's why you taste before you order! I love this. We ordered the calamari for our appetizer, and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't covered in oil and fried stuff- I actually tasted the squid. YUM. Between the two of us, we ordered the smoke burger- APPLE WOOD BACON changed my LIFE, beef, cipollini onions, amazingness- I couldn't finish it because it was larger than me, but it was delicious and the kobe beef hot dog- which was tasty, but it was nothing to write home about. The vibe is super chill, and great for watching local sports (a Ravens game was on when we went!). I can definitely see myself (and the boyfriend) becoming regulars here!
(4)
Brian And Fran M.
Overall - a gorgeous space and excellent beer selection, but the rest needs some refinement. This is a great beer-lover's bar with a gourmet light-fare menu. Calling is a restaurant, though, seems a stretch. Given the ambitious menu, my table unanimously remarked "good potential" but "lacking execution". It's advised to make a reservation - the hostess was less than willing to give up even a long empty table for fear of being unable to seat reservations. When we finally got a table, after watching others seat themselves, the waitresses and bartenders seemed experienced, but food was slow to arrive. When it did arrive it looked great, but my much-anticipated Smoke Burger came out well done instead of medium. (We did receive a small discount on the bill to compensate for the slow service.) After the meal, we asked for the dessert menu and were told they were out of everything and they did not serve coffee or tea. So my advise to Alewife would be - "Be a bar or be a restaurant". If your goal is to satisfy the beer-lover, add more bar seating! I would give you 4 - 4.5 stars for a great bar! If you want to be a restaurant, you may need to retrain the kitchen staff to be more consistent or simplify the dishes. Given time and some care this could be one of the best restaurants in Baltimore! Also note: When traveling here - it's best to come from the East or South - the neighborhoods North and West are a little sketchy.
(3)
Julius B.
Great spot across from Hippodrome theater. Smoke burger is the bomb! Maybe the best cheeseburger in town. Calamari appetizer terrible. Overpriced and soup like texture. Fries were good but great. Great wait staff. Crazy selection of drafts. The Sierra Nevada holiday pale ale was tops. I will repeat.
(4)
Leslie B.
Good food, although I do sometimes think it's a bit more expensive than it should be. Best beer selection in that area of downtown (i.e. waaaaay better than Pickles, Frank & Nic's, etc.)
(4)
John R.
Great experience for lunch. Bartender was attentive and knowledgeable about the great beer selection. Went back later that night and had some more beers. The place was little crazy after an O's/Red Sox game. Still, it rocked. The bartenders stayed up and the owner was a gracious host (on his birthday). Highly recommended.
(5)
Laura K.
Excellent beer selection, and knowledgable staff which had me feeling like we were off to a great start, but things really just weren't that great overall. I will say my 3-stars is colored by the fact that I was super excited to go here and was really disappointed overall. We got the duck fat fries and they were delicious and crunchy. I had the tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons and it was delivered luke warm, it was pretty good other than that, but I wasn't blown away and am still not sure if the croutons were always soggy or if it had just been sitting before I got it. Someone else in our party got soup, it was also good, but luke warm. I lived in the south for a few years and fell in love with Shrimp and Grits as a dish, but now that I live in Delaware I never see it on menus, so when I found a restaurant near our hotel with it listed on the menu I was really excited. There are two types of shrimp and grits, one thats heavily tomato based and one that's not. I prefer it not be tomatoey and so I asked the server which it was, she said it was barbecue which (usually) has a tomato base but past that it wasn't tomato heavy. So when my meal showed up drowning in a chunky tomato sauce and it was all on top of what was much closer to a polenta than anything I've ever heard represented as grits, I was automatically very disappointed in my meal. It was ok. The shrimp was good, the polenta was good, as was the spinach, it just really wasn't what I was expecting and it was also not amazing enough to overcome that. My husband got the skirt steak and he said it was solid and tasty, but he sort of felt it also didn't blow him away and we both felt thusly, that it was a tad overpriced. The couple we were with both really enjoyed their meals, which were also more "bar food" based, and we all enjoyed the service beer selection and atmosphere. If it weren't for the pricing combined with the massive disappointment I felt with first cold soup and then inaccurate menu description, I probably would've rated it higher.
(3)
Jen K.
Great bar! I came here twice while in town for a conference. The first night we were regular patrons. We set up at a table and ate and drank all night long as we launched a massive new product. Food was ok. I know everyone raves about the duck fat fries, but to me they were just "eh". But the rest of the crew loved them, so I guess it was just me! Our waitress was amazing! Funny, attentive and helpful. And when a co-worker came late after the kitchen closed she even offered to go get him food. Amazeballs! We came back the second night, this time as a company renting out the facility for a conference party. We took over the entire place and the staff was amazing. For having close to 200 people there, I was amazed at how attentive the bar staff was. Everyone had a blast and the manager was very easy to work with. If we ever end up in Baltimore again for a conference and decide to host a party this would easily be my first choice!
(4)
Casey T.
We stopped in after reading other yelp reviews. Tried a selection of different beers and ordered some calamari which was excellent. We also ordered two burgers and true to their word (it is stated on the menu that the burgers take a long time to make) we waited probably about 40 minutes for them. The ambiance and decor of the restaurant is very neat. We sat at the bar which was comfortable. The bartenders were nice enough but nothing particularly special.
(4)
Good For The Palate R.
Alewife is worth a drive. The specialize in beer and good food. They have a decent selection of wine, and lots of cocktails. One of the best beer selections in the Baltimore/ DC area. 40 Draft Beers, plus a very long bottle list. The staff knows their beer and is opinionated, which I appreciated. They will let you try when they can't get a handle on your preferences. As of July 2011 they are implementing a Wednesday Flight Night. They are offering 10+ different options for you to try (4) 5oz portions of beer. Trivia on Mondays. The TVs make it a great place to hang out before, after, or even during a game at Oriole's or Raven's Stadiums a few blocks away. The place can be pricy but groupons are available frequently. The food is really tasty. Their Smoke Burger is now famous. But you have to try the Vegetarian Black Bean Burger. It won me over and I'm a meat eater. Interesting condiments are well matched. Not a big fan of the Cuban sandwich or the tomato soup. Love the mussels. Go for the beer, stay for the beer.
(4)
Hilary C.
What a gem!! Came here after the Indycar Race and I can't believe we didn't find it sooner. Extensive and impressive beer selection for even the most german of drinkers. The house specialty burger was crazy tasty, and just the right size. I can't wait to return.
(4)
Devon B.
Try the smokeburger, it's amazing. The real treat here is the beer though, tons of it, this place almost singlehandedly raises Bmore to a new level of beer availability and makes it a craft brew town.
(5)
Scott G.
I've been waiting for a beer bar on the West Side for some time. Brewer's Art is fine, but I don't really like drinking their homegrown beers. I want a hoppy Stone IPA. Thankfully, Alewife has just that and tons more. Their beer selection is off the hook with tons of bottles and draughts. I haven't tried the food, but I can say the beer selection, the aesthetics of the venue, and the friendly waitstaff are enough to give it five stars. The location is not ideal. It's rather desolate on weekend nights. In fact, I went to retrieve money from the Bank of America ATM around the corner on a Saturday night. I walked up to the ATM and immediately a man stopped right behind me and asked for something. I bolted before I could ask him to repeat himself. Considering that it's not centrally located in the younger neighborhoods is all the more reason to go there. Support this place so it doesn't go the way of other failed business ventures in West Baltimore.
(5)
Danielle R.
The food was wonderful and there was an amazing selection of well crafted beers to choose from. Be sure to make a reservation or get there early for Happy Hour.
(4)
Whitney T.
I didn't eat here, just had drinks...the beer selection is really amazing! If you're a beer person, this is your place. However, they don't carry Miller Lite, Bud Light, or any of those types of beer, so if you're in the mood for something low-key, this is not your place.
(3)
Adam C.
Hello Yelpers, Wow what can you say? An amazing beer selection, one hell of a Kobe Beef Hotdog, you must try it to understand its goodness, and from what i can tell the Burger looks amazing and smells even better, I have not personally tried this burger , but plan to very soon, Every time I turn my head, I see it when it hits the table, I turn around 5 mins later and its already been eaten, this is a huge burger and my clock may be run by amazing beer, but everyone eats this thing in its entirety. No lie... Go see for yourself. I tend to go with new beers every time I go, because hey, they have so many to choose from. Check it out, bring some friends, enjoy the conversations, and the ambiance of an old Bank, they still have a vault in there on the way to the bathroom, pretty sweet. Brian Palombo, this is the manager. If you have a chance to talk to him when he is there, please do. He is a wealth of information when it comes to Baltimore and will know someone you know from where ever you are from, thats how it worked for us. We live next door , so we try to go as often as possible. Ask Brian about the "Night of 100 Elvises" He describes this mythical night quite well and may even reccomend you try the drink of Christmas! Alewife, I give it 2 thumbs up and 5 stars. I am sorry 1 out of 1000 don't feel the same! Enjoy!
(5)
Meghann R.
We stopped in Sunday afternoon after we walked over to Lexington Market, only to discover the LM is closed on Sundays. It was mid-afternoon when we were there, so pretty quiet, but I imagine it can be pretty lively at night. There is also a theater across the street, so if you're going to see a show this would be a good casual option. The full beer menu is not available for lunch, but there are still plenty of options. We split a sandwich and a shrimp appetizer. The appetizer was fabulous, it was like dim sum meets bar food!
(4)
Alex P.
Terrible. They broke my ID. Bad beer for 5 bucks
(1)
Kojo B.
Ok, first things first the service was really really bad the bar and the restaurant by and large was empty but our waitress rarely checked on us. Slow and un-attentive to say the least. Anyway, let's move on to the food shall we. So prior to going I checked the yelp reviews and everyone raved on and on about this smokehouse burger as being the best burger in Baltimore. Obviously my expectations and bar had been set very high, so needless to say I ordered the smokehouse and boy was I disappointed. The bacon was burnt and was hard as rocks, I ordered my burger medium well, it was terrible it sought of reminded me of burgers at hard rock cafe not earth shattering but basic. I am pretty positive that I can hook up a better seasoned burger. Anyhow when someone says that Alewife's burgers are the best in bmore it's quite possible that some adult beverages have clouded their judgement. I will stick to Abbey's and will try out Hamilton Tavern at a latter time. Also i had fries along with my burger, and if that is what was masquerading as duck fat fries then it is the worst i have ever had.
(2)
Stacey G.
Sorry to those who thought much higher of this place than me but I've had a lot better for better prices. The best parts about this place is their draught beers and the setting. Great selection and the server was able to describe them thoroughly. The service was also pretty good. The disappointment? Kind of important component: the food. The duck fat fries were over seasoned. The chipotle aioli with all the seasoning on the fries was just too much. One of us had the burger and I simply don't get what everyone is raving about. It was good, yes, but the best burger you've ever had? I'm afraid those folks aren't getting out enough. I don't like being able to taste a charcoal flavor more than the meat. The meats get lost in all the onion, cheese, chipotle. It's just too much going on. We subbed asparagus for the fries and the asparagus were like tree trunk size and were over grilled. (I'll go to Pappa's if I want mushy asparagus.) Also, not sure why we were charged for subbing. The asparagus side is cheaper than the fries. But whatever. We also had the BBQ shrimp and grits. The flavor of the grits was pretty good. The shrimp were cooked nicely. Not really a strong BBQ flavor but I was OK with that. The real problem was the grits were lumpy. Not just small lumps either. Imagine lumps the size of toast points. At $20, you'd think grits could be smooth. Shows a lack of care/consistency. One last note - we were seated upstairs in that small area overlooking the bar. It was so loud at points we gave up talking to each other. Granted it was a Friday night after 7 so noise levels will be higher but the noise cast a shadow over the entire evening. Incidentally, not sure if they have desserts. We were never offered any. We'll go again. Maybe this time they'll have the radish wraps, which I wanted to try. Beer selection is worth another visit. And we have another groupon so not going to let it go to waste but I hope our second visit is redeeming.
(2)
Darcy P.
from what I hear--one of top 3 burgers in the city. but I don't agree. they mix the smoked gouda in with ground meat...and I think the flavor gets lost. but friends LOVE LOVE LOVE it. "3 types of meat and 11 oz!" and, to be fair, I'm not a big burger eater. So when I do have a bite, I want it to be magnificent. I've tried this one twice and twice decided not worth eating more. also, the burger wasn't cooked as ordered, but hey. the beer selection is fantastic. the vibe is great. the entire menu is also good and elevated from normal bar food--with good prices, too! the service is nice but really slow, though prob more a management issue than a server issue, i.e., put more bartenders or servers on a shift. two bartenders with a big packed bar just doesn't cut it. we have season tickets to the hippodrome and go here before the shows. it's packed but worth it. it's a welcome addition to the neighborhood and worth checking out.
(4)
Cesar G.
I was in Baltimore for a conference recently and decided to check out Alewife with three colleagues based on Yelp and a Baltimore Magazine review. I wasn't disappointed. It has a great ambiance, a delicious black bean burger, and a great beer and cocktail menu. I would definitely be open to returning next time I'm in town.
(4)
Linda L.
I used to really like Alewife the first couple times I went, but I've been totally disappointed lately. I keep coming back because it's only a block away from my boyfriend's apartment and it serves food late enough at night that if I'm unwise enough to procrastinate on dinner, there's always somewhere to go besides Panera or Subway. They have a gigantic beer menu so there's always something new to try. The restaurant is situated in an old building that used to be a bank at some point, so there's some cool architecture going on as well. As far as a bar food goes, it's hit and miss, and pricey for what you get. The famous smoke burger is not any more special than burgers you can get at any other restaurant or gastropub, yet is several dollars more expensive. My favorite dish here used to be the mushroom risotto cakes, but they seemed to have removed it from the menu. Just as well, considering the last time I got it, the cakes weren't warm all the way through and the crust was far from crispy. The fennel frites also used to be a favorite of mine, but when I got them off the late night menu this past weekend, I think the cook accidentally threw in some calamari into the fryer. The batter was also sub-par. What was supposed to be a light and crispy tempura batter was instead a heavy, overcooked fried dough coating the slices of fennel (and calamari...). I could go on about my various disappointing experiences here but I'll spare you the details. There really aren't very many restaurants in this area besides chains, so Alewife isn't a terrible option, especially if you don't want to walk down to the mediocre, touristy restaurants at the Inner Harbor.
(2)
D V.
I love coming here! This is my 7th trip here and I always get the burger with duck fat fries. It is the BEST burger I have ever had. Also I want to say thank you to Kelsey would fished my retainer out of the trash.
(5)
Greg M.
After reading all the reviews about the smoke burger i may have set my expectations too high. It was a red robin quality hamburger at best... On the brighter side, they have a draft list that will please any beer snob and the duck fat fries are worth the trip alone.
(3)
Meatdowntown C.
I went again to try the Cubano sandwich but it is gone. I did try the burger at it was very good as well as the Tilapia tacos. the service at the bar is kind of funky. the bartenders think they are too cool for the curstomers. Still good food and a great variety of beer.
(3)
Marlee S.
For a place that wasn't super full, it sure took a LONG time to get our drinks and food. The pluses are their beer selection. The food is on the pricier side for a bar.
(2)
David M.
This place has a constantly rotating selection of fantastic craft beers and one of the best burgers you'll ever find. Everything on the menu is pretty good but that Smoke Burger is really something special. Try it.
(5)
Roz S.
Excellent! Beer and food were terrific! Duck fries, mac n' cheese, and peach quesadillas were all delicious. Friendly service.
(5)
Julian G.
Fantastic service, delicious food, cool atmosphere... great time!!!
(5)
Carl A.
I really want to like Alewife. Anyplace devoted to various "good" beers that ISN'T Max's makes me incredibly happy. We should have 10 restaurants and bars that have this kind of selection so that I never have to deal with the crowds that Max's brings. I went to Alewife last night with my boyfriend, and two other couples. It was crowded; we got there right before Les Miserables started across the street at the Hippodrome, and so we were waiting for a table. I draped my coat across a chair, and while I was ordering a beer at the bar, my compatriots were scolded for it. I wouldn't be irked by this ordinarily, if we hadn't been given that exact table 10 minutes later. The beer selection here is great. They have a LOT of different varieties. We seemed to stick to the draft beers...I ordered a Stone IPA, and two Allagash Blacks. The other dudes that were there are very adventurous, and had fun picking through the beer list and debating the merits and downfalls of each. The food was tasty, too. I wasn't too hungry, so I just ordered Cream of Crab soup, which was pretty good. Also ordered were Duck Fat Fries, which were also fairly good (though I do have a problem faking the seemingly requisite orgasm noise accompanying their arrival on the table), as well as Shrimp Croquettes (Only three?? Come on!) and Mushroom Risotto Cakes, which were kind of skimpy. My boyfriend ordered the Black Bean Burger, which was tasty (I had a sample...dating perks), but was...rather squishy. It virtually disintegrated when squeezed. The service here was pretty slow, especially disproportionate when considering how the crowd thinned out a little bit as the play began across the street. Our server was knowledgable, and very passionate about the beer served, but was wearing a Nike Performance shirt. Like, I wore the same shirt the day before on a run. It bothered me enough to comment about it...it just seemed a little unimpressive. I'd go back...but if similar pub popped up in Baltimore, I'd go there instead.
(3)
Sarah S.
Loved the food, beer, and ambiance of Alewife. The only downside was the mostly inattentive staff. Definitely worth giving a second chance.
(4)
Rick S.
First time. Got in around 830pm; wasn't crowded at all and grabbed a seat wherever. Food was upscale and had the price to match; same with the beer ($21 for steak and $7 for a rare beer) but you get what you pay for. All around good place to visit.
(4)
Lois B.
The first time we had the smoked burger which was fine. This time we ordered the Maryland crab cakes. The cake was very small and the price was quite high for what it was. Two small crab cakes, one fried green tomato and a very small salad. The best part of the dinner was the wine.
(3)
Mark F.
Great beer selection! I ordered the Kobe hotdog to eat. The sausage and mustards were great but the roll did not seem fresh at all.
(3)
Ben H.
Walked into Misfits 20 Eyes, then talked to Chef Chad Wells for 2 mins. Great guy. Then the Cure Just like heaven hit. I've got a new home in Baltimore. Shit, I just realized I haven't said a word about the food. Ok, two words. Smoke Burger. And anything this man does with snakehead fish is magic!
(4)
Travis B.
Disappointed. This is my 2nd time coming here. I had the Cuban sandwich the first and it was amazing. This time around I tried the smoke burger per reviews. I was not impressed. My burger was undercooked completely raw in the middle. The bun was overly grease. The duck fries were grease and undercooked. Don't get me wrong these food items are grease but this was not appetizing. I'm sticking with a three because they have a great beer selection, they do have some great dishes and my food was flavorful, just poorly cooked.
(3)
Jon L.
I can't get enough of the smoke burger. The rest of the menu is so appetizing but I can't go there and order anything else. I managed to share an appetizer last time and got the wings. They were amazing. Yesterday, I shared the fish tacos as an appetizer before the burger. I left there so full but wanting more...Can't wait to go back..
(5)
Matthew V.
The Alewife is all about the beer. They offer a enormous list of beers you've never heard of and it changes weekly. You can request samples of beers before buying. The food is upscale pub fare (burgers, fries) and is quite tasty - just not the best I've ever had. Portions are good, the decor is nice, and the wait staff is helpful (ask them for a beer recommendations). You're typical patrons are yuppies. Not a 5 star rating because its slightly overpriced and the conditions of the Groupon they offered were pretty restrictive; but I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Steve S.
We visited Alewife for the first time on Friday evening before a concert at the Hippodrome. Our party of six arrived at bit late but our reservations were held and our table was ready. The hostess was very friendly and greeted us warmly. We waited about 5 minutes for a server and our drinks were brought quickly. Our food was a very different story. Our party elected to order burgers to save time but our food took almost any hour to arrive. To be fair, our server warned us to order quickly and the owner sent us a round of drinks but we were about 10 minutes late to the show. The "smoke burger" was fantastic and the beer selection vast. I will go back, but not before a show.
(4)
Brian O.
Great food and friendly service. The Smoke Burger exceeded all expectations, and the duck fat fries were something special. Grilled cheese and tomato soup were also a good choice. Our six-year old enjoyed the kid's grilled cheese. The beer selection was excellent, although being from California, it had a lot that were familiar from home, I had to ask what was local to this area.
(5)
Mikey Dreidel B.
By far te best burger I've ever eaten & devil eggs as an app was amazing!!
(4)
Jayson H.
Off night maybe? I read all of these reviews and wonder if I even ate at the same place... Oh yeah, I did. Just finished eating there and won't be back. While they have an awesome selection of beers the staff, at least our waitress, wasn't very knowledgeable about the breweries. She recommended a pilsner that was actually an ale. I had the fish tacos and the tortillas were browned to such a crisp they broke into pieces when trying to eat them like a taco. The "Alewife Salad" was almost completely dry and about 98% greens with limited good stuff - blue cheese, apple, asparagus, etc. When I asked for more salad dressing they gave me some but also charged me for it. Pretty sad to need to charge extra for salad dressing for an $8 salad. Waitress was disinterested in her job and spent most of her time reading at the other side of the restaurant. Then after I confronted her on the extra charge for the salad dressing she said, "Have a nice night" with a smirk and a bit of stink on it. Obviously the manager knew that I had questioned her on the salad dressing (saw the two of them discussing it when she settled the bill). Pros - Amazing beer selection Cons - expensive for serving size, more style over substance with food, slow service (even on a night when they were not busy), staff doesn't know enough about beer, poor attitude I won't go back. I suggest you save your money and visit any of the local places that have great service and great food. Alewife, you've been 86'd.
(2)
Mike D.
Round two...took Mom to Alewife for her birthday and it was the bomb! Thai peanut chicken wings for appetizer was soooooo good,crispy,big,tasty...get them! We both ordered the Smoke burger and again it was terrific. I only ate some fries and half my burger cuz I wanted to try dessert and last time I ate the whole thing and was full as shit. We both got the caramel and apple cheese cake ....yea yeahhhhhh....fuckin tasty!!! Go there get the same things I got and eat dat shit!!!!
(5)
Lindsey M.
The burger and fries are absolutely amazing. However, it's pretty overpriced. The atmosphere is great, but its pretty loud. The servers are pretty distant and not very engaging, but overall that's okay. We asked for a recommendation for beer and described the types we like and had to end up paying for this awful beer at the recommendation of the waiter. It was nothing like what we liked. If your waiter seems unsure, then just ask a bartender or google something ahead of time for what you'd like to try. The ciders there are very good, and I was pleasantly surprised by the berry cider. Be sure to make a reservation as its always fairly full.
(4)
Dave M.
Great atmosphere! Great brew selection! Little bit hipster, not in a bad way tho. Smoke burger is the boss :) Honestly NO complaints! I will be back!
(5)
Miriam B.
This was my 2nd trip here. They have a huge beer list. And some nice cocktails. I tried the pear cocktail and the Baltimore cocktail. My husband tried the IPA beer flight. I tried a sip of it and even though I'm not a beer lover it was very tasty. We had the cheese and meat board, Thai wings and the crab cakes for appetizers. They smoke their own salmon and chorizo and serve it with aged cheddar, gherkins, blue cheese and house glazed cashews on their meat and cheese board. It paired perfectly with the beer. The Thai wings had this sweet/ spicy glaze on them that was kind of addictive. The crab cakes were tasty little morsels of crab meat. We also enjoyed the mussels in a spicy lobster broth. The Cuban sandwich was also a stand out. Thin layers of ham, pork, cheese, pickles and mustard grilled perfectly on Cuban bread. For a side dish the grilled asparagus was terrific. Great option for a vegetarian. We had a sponge cake with keylime ice cream for dessert. It was the perfect ending to our meal. Very nice service too.
(5)
Jesse K.
With little reluctance I was brought back to this establishment for a work get-together and my experience this time really changed my mind for the better about Alewife. Although the Stone IPA was out, I was recommended the Green Flash IPA by our server and it was kick butt. Based on other reviews I ordered the smoke burger and it was served perfecto medium rare and also kicked butt. Delicious. Rounded out the night with a Green Flash "Palette Wrecker" imperial IPA, which was one of the best beers I have ever tasted and a personal recommend by the owner, with whom I chatted while we were washing our hands in the restroom, of all places. The service was great; she broke our tab into multiple separate checks without issue and our food came out much more quickly than I thought it would. We had a very nice time. I would gladly come back again.
(4)
Lindsay R.
If you go for nothing else, the smoke burger is worth the trip! There is also a very wide selection of beer that is reasonably priced. The service is not as attentive as it could be, but still a place worth visiting. Also, if you come in a group over 3 then prepare to pay as a group
(4)
Jamie S.
I'm so glad someone is making use of this location because the building is so beautiful. If you remember Lucy's Irish Restaurant from back in the day this is what's there now. Right across from the Hippodrome so go in and grab a pint before the show. Alewife has kept this location classy and is bringing herds folks in because this place was packed by 5:30 when I was there. For the beer snob in you this place will probably have something to your liking. When I was there I had the local Stillwater Autumnal (x3) and it was a satisfying drop. I didn't sample much of the food but friends who ordered were pleased with the attention to detail in their dishes and the burgers looked to be totally bangin'. Beers are strong! Not many wimpy beers here. I'd say the average abv is about 7-8% with drinks like the Victory Storm hovering around 1000% abv. Beers are a bit on the pricey side so bring your beer money. No Dollar Draughts here but the value is there. It's easy to socialize in a bar like this and I had an all around good feeling with this place (did I mention the beers were strong?). You can tell these folks have a good vision and are seeing it through. I have to go now. Need to find more change in the couch cushions. I gotta go back. I wonder if Alewife cashes tax return checks. I'll ask.
(4)
Victoria L.
Last Friday, I was pinged by a couple other Yelpers that they were going to try Alewife for Happy Hour, and since the place is a whopping 3 blocks from my downtown office, I was ecstatic to drink after work and stumble home. So, working and living downtown, you learn that every bar has its own feel and you can't judge the bar by the neighborhood or the neighborhood by the bar. Alewife borders Harbor East and Downtown and the interior is really what you'd expect - classy and polished but open and a very lively place. The bar was *already* hopping, even though I was the first of the group to get there at 5:30 - I got the last seat at the bar. I asked the waitress if they could accomodate a party of 10-20 people, and she said that they were already expecting a couple of larger groups who called ahead. Popular place! It wasn't a big deal at all since none of us mind crowding the bar. I got about 57 ciders, the tomato soup, and the world's classiest hot dog, while my SO got the cubano and about 83 hop-heavy drafts. We were only there until about 7:30 but managed to drink and eat up a $100 bill by the end, and it was worth every penny. Also, kudos to the female bar tender who remembered what I was drinking even though she didn't pour my first one. She did pour my next 56 though. :D
(4)
john f.
been to alewife a few times now. the smoke burger lives up to the hype. they have a million beers on tap, and a staff that is knowledgeable and helpfull. However, be warned, my buddy ordered the skirt steak and it was pathetically small. Skirt steak is generally a cheap cut and he figured $21 would get him a generous portion. but you'd have thought it was filet mignon, the portion was so tiny for the price. hence the 4 stars, everything else about the place is 5 star though.
(4)
Felix G.
Located in the ghetto. But great burger. If you dont get scared easily def stop by.
(4)
shawn g.
Great beer selection and servers that were willing to accommodate us after our fennel fries arrived and we realized that it was not fries dusted with fennel, but strips of fennel, deep fried. The smoke burger did take a while as promised, but I thought the taste was well worth it. The sauteed onions, sauce and seasoning played very well together. The duck fat fries were also good and not nearly as overwhelming as other places I've ordered them. The Lady enjoyed her grilled shrimp and gruyere grits, but couldn't finish. If you go here in the evening and get the table by the big window, be prepared for the attention you'll get from passers by.
(4)
Kay G.
Food was awesome, the service quick (especially for marathon weekend!). I was a little bummed that they were out of at least 1/4 of the draft beers I was interested in, but the buffalo chicken soup certainly made up for it.
(4)
Owen R.
Train wreck for service at Alewife Since I received a call confirming my reservation, I should have realized that the dinner might come off the tracks when the hostess had no evidence of a reservation. Despite the fact it was Saturday at 6pm the fact we were seated promptly, was a good recovery.... But things deteriorated. Good service is not just superior table tending, but coordination between the kitchen and the floor with intervention by management when the two are not in alignment. Some one should tell Alewife. This restaurant is across the street from Baltimore's major performing arts center, The Hippodrome Theater and I would suggest, could be responsible for a large portion of their business given the lack of suitable dining within walking distance. We notified the server of our need to have our "feet on the street" 20 minutes prior to curtain which we were told would not be a problem as we mentioned this one hour and forty minutes in advance of that deadline. Our four top ordered two salads, a black bean cake and a mussels / soup combo for the fourth at 6:20. We heeded the server's gospel to allow for some "more time" for any meat dishes...which evidently included a 4 oz portion of flank steak on one of the salads. Drinks arrived (13 minutes: 1 beer, 2 cocktails, one glass of wine) . The bar was lively - but not so packed so much that an efficient bartender team (?) could not handle. 10 minutes after the drinks were delivered, one of the diner's meals food arrives cold and in advance of all the other dishes. So one person eats while the others watch. Food quality comment: The soup and mussels were cold and the mussel dish had no broth. While I understand it is the chef's purview to prepare dishes how he / she sees fit, this was strange given that the dish came with bread and that I've never seen mussels served sans broth. Tomato soup was average. 7:10 pm - still no food and the waiter's hair is not on fire with this fact. Table tending was failing by all standards at this point. 7:25 (still no food) I've made management aware that at 7:40 we need leaving little time to eat assuming the food ever came out of the kitchen, which is concern. to leave shortly. Other diners adjacent to us are experiencing the same issues and they were seated only moments after us. 7:35 pm our food arrives (with server apologies) to the three diners in our party who of course have to literally eat and run to make the curtain. A bottle of wine was taken off the check and a box was brought to the table so we could fill our own leftovers. (Question: why does scraping the food off your plate on the table seem so much more objectionable than having a server do this out of sight?) So the moral of the story is this: there is a huge disconnect between the servers on the floor, the capabilities of the kitchen and the ability of management to handle either. The kitchen can't queue up food properly, which then leads to them not being able to keep food hot and they can't handle a theater rush. Hint: wouldn't the "theater rush" be your major preparation drill - especially weekends when a Broadways smash hit is playing 75 feet way for a month? Alewife's menu is bar-food average but aspires to be a bit more hip. A huge amount of mciro-draughts is attractive and the old bank space shows well. But Alewife, the third iteration of a bistro in t this space in approximately 5 years needs to wake up and manage the diner queue, realizing that the location is perpetually in the cross hairs of a dinner rush as a result of their proximity to a theater (a year round driver of business.) If they do not, look for a fourth operator in the space shortly.
(2)
Deb S.
The food was great, but the kitchen lost our order so I can't give it 5 stars. We arrived early and although our table was empty and reserved, they wouldn't seat us. They also made us stand in the bar for 20 minutes and we had to close that bill out before we walked 20 feet to our dinner table. Very high noise level. We got an appetizer in just a few minutes - fried calamari and it was very good, great sauce. Then we waited an hour and several followups with our waitress and another server to eventually get out meal, barely in time to make it to the theater. Did not enjoy rushing the food when we finally got it, but we all felt the food was excellent. Two people commented that their crab cakes were the best they have had, which is a lot coming from a real Baltimorean! The oyster appetizer and the fried artichokes were fabulous as well. The waitress was terrific except for not realizing the order was lost. We all agreed we would come back again, enjoyed the food and atmosphere - we just won't be such patient patrons next time:)
(4)
Mike M.
I've been here about 5 times now. The hamburger and beer selection are pretty unsurpassed for Balto. Crab cake appetizer was decent. They may have more beers somewhere (like Max's maybe) but the bartender's know more about how to guide you through a tasting. When I came with my son and the place was packed, the hostess helped accomodate us in the bar area which she didn't have to go through the trouble of doing. Would probably give them 4.5 stars. Do open table on game days as there are a lot of groups.
(4)
Tori H.
A friend had reported back that he ate at Alewife and had THE BEST steak paired with red wine, that he has ever had. My husband (also a chef), immediately had to go. Between 3 people, we ordered the Wild Mushroom Risotto Cake (seemed a bit flavorless), Kobe Beef Hot Dog (definitely interesting), Shrimp Croquette (didn't taste much of the shrimp), and Mussels. Wasn't thrilled with the dishes, but our friends experience will keep us going back a 2nd time to try the steak. The beer selection, however, is phenomenal! Would definitely go back if for nothing else but happy hour.
(3)
Andrea F.
Good food and excellent beer list but man is it SLOW service!!!
(3)
Pat Y.
what an awful experience. it is so loud it is painful. not a great place before the theater. I guess for drinking but not a pleasant conversation. ugh
(1)
Heather S.
Good looking bar, and a cool looking space. There are good fries but no decent dipping sauces, and some other interesting apps. Its a small menu, but the bar serves a really great gin, just as good as Hendricks, but something i had not had before.
Went with my wife on Friday 12/30/11, prior to going to the Hippodrome across the street. Had read some reviews about the homey pub style of this place and it sounded good. We were not disappointed. We had the smoked 11oz. hamburger with the duck fat fries. Delicious! The burger was cooked perfectly and the combination of the top quality beef, with the grilled onions and the bacon on top was a real treat. We ended up trying a few of the many brews they have on tap...the best of which was the Dogfish Head Bitch's Brew special...a stout...The wait staff was good and the atmosphere was perfect for our night out.
(4)
Eric J.
Food was ok. Beer selection was excellent!
(3)
Marcel H.
Their selection of beer is Good, and varies with time. Atmosphere is great, food is good too. The mug-club is a rip-off. You will have to finish in a year and spend an average of $40-50 per week. That is just too steep...
(4)
Dianna P.
Great food and very friendly staff. The boar meatballs are excellent as a light meal.
(4)
Eric E.
Stopped in and had a draft beer. The place isn't really noticeable from the street so keep your eyes peeled for the sign. The stout I had was delicious. The atmosphere was typical of an English pub, cool in some ways and nothing special in other ways. It was very loud in there and hard to have a conversation. I did not order food but did try some "duck fat French fries". They fry them in duck fat which is supposed to give them a much more flavorful and moist taste. I didn't really notice a difference other than they were just flat out awesome fries. I believe they were fresh cut too. The dipping sauce was different and a very good compliment to the fries. I'd go back but not out of my way to do it.
(3)
MissEasy T.
I go here for 2 reasons: 1) Tap lineup consistently awesome and 2) I can get there via lightrail, consume a few high octane brews and get home safely (and cheaply). If not for these 2 compelling reasons, I would not bother. Food is slightly above average pub fare and bartenders spend most of their time chatting with regulars, friends and other staff members. They don't seem to care to chat w/ non-regulars and are not enthusiastic about beer. They do not constantly scan the customers seated at the bar to monitor their consumption or anticipate their needs or to just seize and opportunity to be friendly. When asked for beer suggestions, they will offer input but again, not w/ much enthusiasm. Unfortunately, bartending seems to be a dying art in Baltimore and restaurants have forgotten that a really friendly, knowledgable bartender who works at cultivating regulars can be just as much a draw as a great selection of beer and/or good food!
(3)
Brian M.
My friend and I walked to The Alewife before an O's game. I had high hopes but was disappointed. I had the smoke burger and it wasn't as great as the reviews led me to believe. I would call it mediocre at best. The high price makes me want to deem it a total failure as a burger. It was lacking flavor and dry. The burger appeared thick but when the bun was removed I could see that it was a mm thin throughout the center. I ordered the duck fat fries and I believe they were regular fries, not well cooked, with some garlic and herbs sprinkled on them. I've had duck fat fries several times and these weren't it. The beer selection is vast but the 4 beers we tried tasted like the tap lines had soured or maybe the glasses had a funky taste? I don't know. The bartender was friendly and knowledgeable and provided us with good service. The food seemed to take a long time to reach us even though It was a Thursday at 4PM and we were the only ones there. My friend ordered the "fish and chips". The fish was well prepared and tasty. The "chips" turned out to be fried yucca strips, which normally I enjoy, but these were nearly dehydrated and greasy. My friend did not eat them. I'm not a picky eater but I did not enjoy this restaurant and wouldn't go back.
(2)
Aminah F.
VERY IMPRESSED. Great service, great selection of beer and amazing pub fare. Their rockfish is delicious.
(4)
Tommy F.
The food was excellent, they had an awesome selection of craft beers and the service was good considering that liberal Canadian d-bag was in town. Great place to stop in and grub!
(5)
Henry C.
I went there on a night before an Orioles game and they were not that busy. 1) Incredibly slow service 2) The waiter got 3 out of 8 beers wrong 3) Waiter took orders from half our party and left only to come back 20 minutes later to finish taking orders 4) The floors were incredibly slippery like they had grease spilled over it 5) 2 medium-rare burgers ordered, one was well done while the other was rare. Great concept but poor execution.
(1)
Danielle K.
I've only had the black bean burger and fries here - which are actually very good. It's a good place for beer, but I really like their cocktails as well. I only give this place 3-stars because despite the food and drink being good, they're pricey and the service is blah.
(3)
Zoey M.
Awesome space, love the look of the place. Beer selection on tap is impressive and so is the bottle list. I've never actually gotten a bottle because they have so many choices on tap. I feel that the drafts are priced well too. Service is sometimes slow on a busy night but every member of the staff is personable and fun. Some of the food is almost brilliant flavor-wise. There are a few misses along the way but the chef is open to experimentation so that goes with the territory. The menu can get pricey but it's really far above your usual pub grub. I do wish they had more choices on the red meat heavy menu that didn't have pork or beef but I'm sure I'm in the minority. Also, the chef has got to stop covering everything in greens. They taste great and are pretty but are so tangled it's almost impossible to eat unless you want the whole wad in your mouth. Overall, a great place to hang out and spend a few hours trying some good beer.
(4)
Brian F.
Alewife is a classic case of a potentially great location ruined by poor implementation. I took my family there right before a show at the Hippodrome... what I expected was a great beer selection and good food. What I found was quite possibly the worst service I've had in Baltimore (50min to get a sandwich), mediocre food, and it's namesake... ales... are an enigma to the staff. We love to try new things and beers are one of them... but if you're going to have an esoteric selection you had better staff your place with people who know an ale from a lager, a pale ale from a belgian, and be able to answer a wife's question such as "what do you have in a slightly sweet amber" with a better answer than... "I don't know, I don't really like beer" (I'm SERIOUS). Avoid Alewife, there are much better choices in the area. Maybe try back in a few years if they survive... which they may simply due to the location being across the street from the Hippodrome.
(1)
Andy F.
More beers than Pratt Street, Brewer's Art, etc. A great selection with something for everyone. The food was solid too. I enjoyed the kobe beef hotdog! The bartender was a great conversation and the interior was very intriguing. The surrounding area isn't overly nice to walk through, but you can get around this by walking southeast on your way out.
(5)
Jonathan H.
As a graduate student who lives nearby, I have been desperate for someone to take over the space that Alewife now occupies and reinvigorate it. My prayers have been answered! The Place: Located in what appears to be an old bank near the Hippodrome, Alewife has an open concept with giant chalk-boards that serve as menus detailing the ever-changing assortment of beers available on tap and by the bottle. The main room is dark, not quiet--think Cheers, but with a higher ceiling. There is also at least one other side room that would be good to use as a meeting/private happy hour room. While the decor could be more complete, the place opened recently, so I'm giving them a pass for now. The beer: 40 beers. On tap. Need I say more? I don't need to, but I will. This beer menu doesn't feature your traditional Baltimore fare of Boh, Miller Lite, and Boston Lager. What it does feature is some great local and not-so-local beer. If you're like me, you don't spend your time researching all 40 beers. Waive any one of the waitstaff over and they'll help you out. Tell them what you like and they'll be able to point you in the right direction. Still not sure? Ask for a free taste to try before you buy. While looking up at the chalkboard may get annoying, a server assured me that printed menus were in the works. Oh, and did I mention the bottled beer selection is also huge? The food: If you've ever tried to get a bite to eat near Camden Yards at a good restaurant, then you'll understand why I think Alewife is such a necessary addition to the neighborhood. So far I've tried the smoke burger, and the cubano. I echo the comments that appear elsewhere on the smoke burger (one of the top 10 burgers I've had), and will say that the cubano was tasty, crispy, and wonderful. I wished the salad accompanying the cubano had a little more to it, but that's a nit that should be worked out as the kitchen gets its legs under itself. My other minor quibble is with the tempura fennel frites--at $6, the portion size should be bigger. That being said, they were really tasty. The service: As I said above, the staff is very eager to help you out when deciding over beer. This helpfulness extends to food as well. My water glass is always full throughout my stay and they're happy to hang around or stay away. In short, they do exactly what someone who's running a gastropub like this should do when running the front of the house. I sincerely hope that Alewife stays around. My feeling is that if they keep it up, they will.
(5)
Mike W.
Alewife is great! My wife and I recently ate here for a birthday dinner. I had the fillet, she had the kobe beef hot dog. Both were delicious. The hot dog was served in a pretzel roll with buffalo chili and three kinds of handmade mustard. It could not have been better. The fillet could have had a little more flavor, but was cooked well and delicious. But the real reason one goes to Alewife is for the beer. I had the Stone Brewery's Levitation and then the Evolution IPA. When I was uncertain or unfamiliar with a beer choice, the waitstaff was informative and would even bring out a shot for tasting. I'll keep coming back to Alewife as often as I have the opportunity.
(5)
sarah b.
the food pisses me off and the female bartender will serve every man before ever making eye contact with any females waiting to order (not just me, seriously). that being said, i cannot find a better IPA selection in this town so i will keep going back.
(4)
Jessica L.
I went to Alewife the other night and was blown away by the incredible food, awesome drink menu, and excellent service. The place had a great vibe - people were there celebrating a birthday, celebrating someone's conquering of the 150 beer list, and generally having a great time. I had the best burger I've ever had along with risotto cakes, fish tacos, and much more. I recommend going there with a group, all ordering different things and splitting so you can try as many things as possible. I can't wait to go back the next time I'm in Baltimore!
(5)
C W.
if i was to rate the bar, it might've been 5 stars...but for the restaurant, they definitely get just 1. Our burger came out raw...we asked for medium and it still looked like raw ground beef and fell/flaked apart like raw ground meat, it was disgusting.
(3)
Alicyn D.
Two friends and I went here on Tuesday night, prior to seeing Jersey Boys at The Hippodrome. I made a reservation, knowing full well they would probably get a lot of theater traffic. We were sat fairly quickly and had a great seat in the window. For drinks, I had the Delirium Tremens and my friends had the Baltimore Seasonal and Castro's Passion cocktails. All were delicious. For dinner I had the Alewife Salad (one of the best starter salads I've ever had! Asparagus, Greens, Pears, and Bleu Cheese), the Tuna Tartare Appetizer (delicious and great quality), and an order of Duck Fat Fries for the table (crisp and tasty). My friends both had the salad too, the Smoke Burger (I heard it was tasty) and the Cuban Sandwich (I heard it was good as well). We couldn't stop talking about the food after we left. The service was good too. I will definitely come back here, even when not going to a show. I love the atmosphere, the food, and especially love the beer selection! I since paid a visit here and had the Crab Deviled Eggs as an appetizer - interesting but good. I also had the Smoke House Burger (An 11oz House Ground Ribeye, Brisket, Skirt and Filet of Beef Burger, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere Cheese, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun) which was OUT OF THIS WORLD! If you love burgers, you must try this.
(4)
Jess F.
I thought that I was really going to LOVE Alewife, but was majorly disappointed. To give credit where it is due, the space is fantastic- just as great as when it was Maggie Moore's. The beer list is phenomenal, and the menu is exciting. However, we went on a Tuesday night at 8 pm and while it was busy (likely due to groupon/living social coupons expiring the next day) it wasn't like it was a full house. Our drinks arrived in a timely manner, but we waited an hour for our appetizer (which it should be pointed out was only a bowl of soup- a pretty good one, actually). Then, we waited over another hour for our food. The waitress kept assuring us it would be just a few more minutes (through no fault of her own, I should point out), but the kitchen just didn't have it together. The table of two next to us, who were seated at the same time we were, were already finished were their food (ironically, they placed the same order we did) at that point. As it had been 2 hours and 15 minutes since we were seated, we politely asked the waitress if we could just pay for the drinks/soup and be on our way. At 10:15, we had little interest left in even eating the long awaited food. She asked if we'd be interested in at least taking the food to-go, on the house (which seemed fair). The smoke burger and the Kobe beef hot dog were just okay- although I suspect that being packaged up and steaming in the to-go boxes took away from what they might have been otherwise. The duck-fat fries were not in fact duck-fat fries, or at least were nothing like any duck-fat fries we've ever had previously. Was the food bad? No. Was it fabulous? No. I'd absolutely go back for beers, but doubt I'd be ordering food (as good as it sounds on the menu) unless I had lots of time to kill waiting around for it.
(2)
Patience M.
Service was good. But the menu is rather limited. My party of 10 decided to order the pork-belly mac&cheese fries as an appetizer which was good (the collard greens and mac&cheese were really good) but the fries on their own were just blah! Most entrees are served with a side of fries, I think more options for sides would be great. I had the black bean burger which was juicy and fairly good. I was disappointed that they skimped on the guacamole. In retrospect, I should have asked if they offer a salad substitute for the fries. It was Monday night - trivia night and the group participated, which was fun to do non-competitively.
(3)
Mark M.
Wow. The neighborhood was really sketchy, but this place is great. We had a great time. Had reservations, but got there a bit early and found seats at the bar. Great beer selection and cocktails for the wife. Great food and wonderful atmosphere, everyone was so nice to us. I had the smoke burger, my wife had the mussels after we split an app or two. Had planned on going to Brewers Art next, but had so much fun here, we never made it. Maybe next trip.
(4)
Steven D.
Synopsis: Atmosphere: 3.5/5 Service: 4/5 Taste: 5/5 Price: 3.5/5 Selection: 4/5 This place is mainly a bar with some food items. While the food may be a little low in selection, the food items are so very good to eat. The selection of beers is so very long it is crazy. The atmosphere of this place is pretty good. Built in an old bank, and has the original interior it seems. However, when I went the music was a little loud. I was still able to talk, but it could have been turned down. I have been there other times and the music was fine, but the most recent time it was a little loud. I went in the evening, so that could have been the case. Service wasn't bad at all. Got the food in a very reasonable amount of time, the server was nice, and we got our beers in a quick time too. The taste is excellent. I got the burger they have to offer and it was awesome. I have had the burger multiple times and it never fails to impress me. The fries they have are made in duck fat and are great. The selection, as I said early, could be expanded in the food department. While the food is great, I feel like there could be more food. The drinks however are perfect. So many to choose from. Now the price of the food is good for the quality, but the amount for the drinks is a little high. I believe this place is a microbrewery, so it is going to be high, but it seemed quite pricy for my tastes. The beers that I got were really good, but cost a pretty penny. Overall, if you want a good burger and good beer then this place will be for you. Just be prepared to pony up a good amount of cash.
(4)
Steve G.
Alewife has one of the better beer selections in the area but be prepared to pay Manhattan prices. Most are between $7 and $11 for a 12oz pour which works out to about $9-$15 a pint. If you want a beer and a $16 burger this place is just OK, the rest of the menu (I have been several times prior to concerts at the Hippodrome) is pretty disappointing. This time I thought I would order the chicken waffle sliders and all they are is a Chick Fil A nugget and a bit of bacon and cheese between two mini Eggo frozen waffles - like the ones you toast and break into 4. I was speechless. $14 for three of them. It should be offered as an appetizer for $8. I finished my meal before my buddy was 1/4 way through his burger. The fellow on the table next to me got some other similar slider 'entree' and ended up eating that and half his wife's burger. Decor is interesting. It's an old bank with wood paneling, old wood floors and peeling paint. Clientele seems to be a lot of hipster dudes with full beards and backpacks. It's that kind of place. The saving grace is the beer selection but as previousuly mentioned, take your check book. Worth a try if you're off to the Hippodrome, otherwise, I wouldn't go out of my way to find this place.
(2)
Z S.
If you're going for a beer - 3.5 stars. Anything else 1.5 stars. Do not order the chicken and waffle sliders, all they are is deep fried mini eggo waffles ( the ones you put in the toaster and break into 4 mini pieces) a large chicken nugget, small piece of bacon and cheese. And there's only 3 of them. For $14......? Absolutely absurd. Granted they were decent, there's no way I can give more than two stars. Especially because the server brought me shrimp and grits sliders!!
(2)
Leo O.
Came here with a group of 11 and we had no issues getting seated. Granted it was on a tuesday evening. We all ordered from their draught section and one of us ordered their fried oysters. In terms of the fried oysters, it was just okay. Basically it was spicy buffalo wings sauce but over oysters. It didn't go well together. Frying oysters didnt work well either because it tasted even more soggy due to the inherent texture of oysters. I am no expert in beers but I actually liked the beer that I got: Flying Dog Dead Rise. I liked the subtle hint of spicyness in the beer due to the old bay spice. It wasn't too hoppy for me. They give a decent sized glass. Service was decent. Only thing was that the table had not been wiped down before we sat down and was not wiped down throughout our time there. I would recommend this place if you wanted to go somewhere else but still near the convention center. In terms of food, if the appetizer was any representation, I would be hesitant in recommending their food.
(3)
Steve L.
Oddly, the burger is the worst part of the otherwise great Smoke Burger. Hit the Alewife (incidentally the Red Line terminus in Cambridge, MA) late Preakness Saturday to soak up racetrack alcohol and winnings. Glad to see it open until two. Got the ballyhooed Smoke Burger with duckfat fries, and the initial impression was one of terrific flavor; unfortunately, this did not hold up with extended chewing. The culprit was an altogether unseasoned beef patty. Though it was clear that it was recently broken down from a fine slab of meat, they didn't bother to pursue beef umami Nirvanna. Basically a slab of grilled (premium) ground beef. The thick cut bacon saved the burger, but the star should have been the beef. Next time, Alewife, finish your signature burger.
(3)
Randy G.
Inside has a nice appeal with the restaurant being a former bank. The vault and it's big think steel door remains giving it a cool look. Once the server mentioned it, you can begin recognizing the old bank layout shell. It's neat how they have preserved it while still giving it it's own interior design. They have a great selection of beer with some very good local options to try. We started with the Shrimp Grits and Thai Chicken Wings. These are two great starters with the plates being cleared. The shrimp was cooked nicely along with the grits. It had nice flavor contrast between the two. The wings are a get-again dish with the sauce the true star. The chicken was tender and the sauce had a great sweet and tangy flavor to draw you in for the next wing. On the server's recommending, they are supposed to be known for their burgers. Therefore why not try their signature Smoked Burger with Duck Fat Fries. Well, they probably could have kept both and wish I had tried something else. This place started on such a great note, but fizzled out with their so called star. The burger was cooked to my liking, but didn't have any of the flavor I was expecting. Smoked? Not sure if the meat was supposed to have a smoked flavor or the cheese. Either way, I didn't get any of it. For the fries, they were more of the soggy texture than a nice outer crunch and soft inside. They either were sitting around or not cooked long enough. They started off with a few good hits in the beginning, but struck out later in the game.
(3)
Caitlin R.
I've heard good things about this place and I've been meaning to try it. We came as a group of 14 (had a 7:30 reservation) and were seated in the back room. After reading so-so reviews of this place, I decided I wasn't going to listen to that, because the menu looked simple and good, and the beer list was extensive! I read someone's review from 2012, and it was EXACTLY what I wanted to say. It seems like things haven't changed much. But here's my take: Bad service - the waitress walked by us quite a few times before ever even coming over and saying anything. We were waiting for friends to trickle in to eat, but would have loved to get started with a beer. Also, she would come to half of the table and walk away before asking anyone else if they needed anything. This pretty much caused me anxiety because I felt rushed and like I always had to be on the look out for her. She would also come over to take an empty glass, or regretfully inform us that they didn't have a beer, the keg was kicked, or they were out of that, and not ask if anyone else needed anything. Food - Meh. Had better. Brussels, skip. Go to Rocket to Venus instead if you want some bomb ass brussels. Shrimp and Grits - the best thing I tried on their menu. The sauce that accompanies the fried grit balls with the shrimp completes the dish. Delicious. The Smoke Burger - about 6 of them ordered Medium rare to Medium range....6 of them came out well done. Who wants this "amazing" burger well done? (the menu says to please be patient when ordering this because it may take a while....maybe that's why, because they are cooking them all well done.....just saying). The Roasted Eggplant Dip - strong flavors, but salty. Not worth $10 bucks. The black bean burger - It's fine. Nothing special. I couldn't taste the difference between the regular fries and the duck fat fries. Go to Annabelle Lee's (in Canton/Highlandtown) for some better duck fat fries (and a good beer selection). Drinks - Great selection, but they were out of a lot, the keg was kicked, or they just didn't have some. Beware - the whiskeys don't have prices - Whistle Pig Boss Hog - $34. I had the Burley Oak Tart Attack ($7) - and it was delicious. I also ordered the Bahn It To Me (Vodka, pickled carrots, cilantro, carrot tops, lemon, and cayanne). I really enjoyed this very interesting cocktail, and props to them for trying something different and ballsy, but it was served without the cilantro and carrot tops. I asked for the cilantro, and was given it on the side, I'm not sure if it was supposed to be muddled or what, but I just added it. Good flavor. Atmosphere - Neat. Used to be an old bank. If you have a table of 4, you can sit inside one of the old vaults which is pretty cool. So bottom line: If you work in the area and had a rough day or you are seeing a show at the Hippodrome, sure, stop in for a drink or 2. If you're looking for dinner and drinks, go somewhere else. There are a ton of other awesome places in the city. Personally, I won't be back.
(2)
Clare C.
Met up with some co-workers here after work. The ambiance made for a fun experience, and the beer list was impressive. The shrimp/grits croquettes were certainly delicious, although definitely a bit overpriced for the amount of food - a burger or other sandwich would have been better bang for my buck. I'd go back for a drink and atmosphere, but probably not for food.
(4)
Rachel L.
On a Friday evening for dinner, my friend Nicole and I were looking to grab a burger and a beer and just catch up. If you're looking for a burger in Baltimore, many are familiar with Abbey Burger which is constantly being written up as the best burger in Baltimore. And if you want plenty of options, that's a great spot. But when you're craving a a great burger, and you don't feel like building it yourself, Alewife is worth a visit. It's also one of the many spots in Baltimore that I have a City Dining Card for. After sitting down and looking over the impressive drink menu, seriously this place is worth a visit for its beer list alone. My friend and I each decided to get the burger. I got it because I know how awesome it is, she probably got it because I hyped it up all day long. The Smoke Burger is 11oz of beef topped with smoked gouda, gruyere, bacon, caramelized onion, and chipotle aioli on a brioche bun. And if that burger isn't amazing enough on its own, it comes with a side of duck fat fries. This burger is so juicy and packed with delicious smoky flavors. It's hands down my favorite burger in Baltimore. If you're looking for a notable beer list and a great burger, I'd highly recommend Alewife.
(4)
GT W.
Huge amount of tap system in a near chapel-like space with massive dark wood beam rafters and a high ceiling with balconies looking down. We had great service and very good food like "Kobe beef" hotdogs, turkey legs, barbecue pork. Decent bottle list. Even though the tap list is very large, the variety isn't as impressive as Stillwater's Of Love & Regret or Max's. However, I think the food and ambiance here is much better than Max's.
(3)
Alex F.
Great burger and duck fat fries. Large selection of really good beers, but pricey. In a sketchy area of bmore.
(4)
Becca R.
Came back to Alewife a few weeks ago on a rare date night for some drinks and dinner. My suspicions were right that we should have made reservations, but we were lucky to snag the last two seats at the bar. It was packed wall to wall by the time we left. You have to not only take into account shows at the Hippodrome, but also the Arena and Everyman Theatre. The bartender was great, sometimes it's just more fun sitting at the bar, so it worked out. Some changes since I wrote my last review, they have a beer menu with the prices listed, which I appreciate. We both got the black bean burger and it was delicious. I love when restaurants make their own veggie burger patties because I am so sick those frozen patties dressed up in different ways. Alewife's burger had a little flavor kick to it and the fries were also good. Definitely will be back the next time we see a show at the arena as this is now the tradition.
(4)
Cam K.
Good beer selection. Snake head cakes was a good appetizer. Smoked burger was ok. Overall pretty cool upscale bar. Would not get the burger again
(3)
Eileen H.
I was so disappointed by my experience at Alewife. We went around lunchtime on a weekend. There were a number of parties in there, but didn't look like it had been packed all morning or anything, so I was surprised when our waitress told us that the first THREE items that we wanted weren't available! The menu is very short, so that's something that they should have a handle on. This really damaged my experience there. Also, the fact that they don't have caffeinated coffee (I mean, it's a bar, so I didn't really expect coffee, but was surprised when our waitress said they served decaf, but not caffeinated? Finally, the women's bathroom is on a completely different floor than the eating/drinking area. The ambiance is charming, and our waitress was wonderful. The food was pretty good, and I thought it was really cool that they marked off entrees that make use of invasive or over-populated species. If my friends were dying to go back, I'd try it again, but at this point, wouldn't really recommend it to anyone.
(2)
Mindy M.
Grilled goat cheddar cheese and bacon sandwich with smokey tomato jam soup. A+. Skip the Thai peanut wings- very pedestrian. More soon- enjoying the O's ALDS game 1 win!!!!!!
(3)
Christopher W.
This would be my second time coming to this place due to me not really remembering if I liked or disliked the place. The lesson I learned was that there was not a reason for Alewife to make me remember liking the place. Nothing really against the waiter that helped me, but he really was frustrating to deal with. I simply asked if I could switch the cheeses to cheddar on the burger, and his reply was that I am not allowed to change anything on the burger. I didnt really understand why. Was the burger premade? was the burger toppings not allowed to be put on the side? After a long time of talking with him, it simply came down to the fact that they did not stock any other cheeses. So I just simply asked if the cheese could be omitted and my burger cooked medium rare. Now, at this point in time I was pretty frustrated and prayed to god that the burger was kick ass because I seldomly eat burgers without cheese. The result? terri-bad... not only was the burger not cooked medium rare, but the patty did not have much taste to it. The really only saving grace was that the fries were good and the beer selection they had was good. BTW, the lunch selection is very small... better to come for dinner as they do NOT serve the dinner menu during lunch time.
(3)
Barathi S.
I always get the same thing here, which I usually don't like doing but if you know what you like... The black bean burger and alewife salads are awesomely delicious. The burger is a thick party and very soft on the inside. It comes with yummy thin cut fries (which I prefer over the duck fat fries) . The salad is also amazing with candied nuts blue cheese and apples ... Mm could really go for that now! They have tons of beers on tap and will happily offer you a suggestion if you tell them your taste preferences. The decor (a converted old bank) is also great. If you are trivia inclined then check it out on Monday evenings.
(4)
Julie H.
I had the cider and the messels both were quite tasty
(4)
Ivy C.
Visited twice. I ordered the Smoke Burger but sadly it came well done instead of medium rare. I ate it anyway because it took so long. I didn't taste any "smoky" flavor which I expected too given the name . The patty was very dry so I had to wash eat bite down with my drink. The fries were nice and crispy but I couldn't taste any hint of the duck fat that they are supposed to be fried in. At $16.00 I expected better, but it was just "meh...". The second visit I ordered the fish tacos which were good, not great , but good ...but I was still hungry and ordered the thai wings which arrived cold and had the texture of boiled chicken skin coated in some spicy sauce, not what I expected. Our waiter took forever to take each of our orders, they were busy but it seemed like other people were being looked after just fine. On the plus side I do like the atmosphere there and it is a great place to try out a variety of draft beers. So even though the food I ordered was unimpressive... The concept is good but I believe there is room for improvement. I wanted to give 3.5 stars but there are no halfsies on Yelp :-( I will still go back but probably stick with some appetizers at the bar.
(3)
Allison R.
Baltimore has so many great places to eat and this is one of those places. We went yesterday for opening day for the first time. Of course it was packed, but we were still able to get some drinks. We also were able to snag a table... The host was awesome! The food did take a while but you know what, we got a table on opening day. And it was worth it! My husband and I split the Brussels sprouts and the smoke burger with duck fat fries. The Brussels sprouts were buttery and topped with bacon crumbles. Yum. The burger was cooked perfectly (though it wasn't as special as the description made it sound, but it was still delicious). The bun was buttered and fluffy, and I'm really picky about bread. I won't eat it if it isn't fresh and not worth the calories. Not the case here. Oh let's not forget the... Duck. Fat. Fries. That's all I'll say about that. The orange crushes I enjoyed (um... Opening day!) were made with fresh oranges. Fresh freaking oranges sliced and squeezed on the spot for your order. They were $6 and amazing. Great way to kick of the season despite the loss. Definitely stop by to pre game, but expect to stand unless you get lucky. I don't think they typically take reservations but they did for opening day. Worth calling ahead and asking.
(5)
Jenny B.
Not a huge fan of Alewife: I find their menu to be limited and overpriced. Although I live like 2 min walking distance away, I don't often go because I feel like the food is not worth it for the price. The menu consists of burgers and other typical bar menu foods. I think there are more worthwhile places nearby (like Maiwand grill!) to go to!
(3)
Frank S.
I firmly believe that Alewife has the best curated selection of beer in Baltimore. They always have a thoughtful variety and I'm never left without many options. I think the atmosphere is enjoyable and I've not seen it too crowded. As far as vegan fare, not too much. I've only had the Black Bean Burger on a ciabatta roll (minus chipotle aioli) and french fries, but it's quite good. For drinking: 5 stars. For vegan dining: 3 stars (just because they at least have something. Overall: 4 stars.
(4)
Brook H.
We only ate here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon, so our review is rather limited. The location was rather empty, with only a single server, single bartender, and very few patrons. This place may be completely different during a weekend evening, so we can only comment on the service and food. Our server was perfectly fine and attentive, so there was little to report there. The food was very good and nicely done, but they had a very limited menu. I'm not sure if it expands during busy hours but I can see people with strict palates having problems. Their duck fat fries were awesome, though, and I think they are a must! The decor is really cool, as the building is rather old. Again, maybe when it's prime time, full of people, live music, etc., the feel of this place becomes more vibrant. Otherwise, it was like visiting a historic building and just sitting quietly. If I ever find the time to truly enjoy the night life (which means escaping kids and responsibilities), I'll give it a try again. I see a lot of potential that maybe I just missed on my singular visit.
(3)
Kate A.
Great place in downtown Baltimore. On a cold, snowy winter day, perhaps it's a bit of a walk from the Inner Harbor. The fish tacos are phenomenally good, so good that I'm glad that I walked in the snow to enjoy them. There are a wide variety of beers to choose from. The noise level is high (at least on Friday nights). Service is good.
(4)
Liz J.
In case you didn't know, Alewife offers 40 beers on tap! This is really for those of you who have never been to Alewife, because as soon as you walk in the door, you're surrounded by signs letting you know about their extensive draft selection. And you know what? It's a pretty good selection. Even I, a very picky beer drinker, found something delicious. The nice part about the drafts is that you can ask for a sample if you're feeling adventurous, but don't want to commit to the sticker price of a full glass. The food was really good, although the food menu is much smaller than the drink menu. I had the soup of the day (broccoli and gouda), and although I could feel the heavy cream going right to my hips, every bite was delicious. Well, every bite but the last bite, which I couldn't get, because the soup was served in a square bowl, leaving some of that creamy goodness to the dishwasher. Soup shouldn't go in square bowls! Salad? Sure. Mac and cheese? Perhaps. But soup? Round bowl please! I also had a black bean burger which had some good flavor, and was accompanied by sweet potato fries. I'm still not sure whether or not I liked the seasoned mayo that came with the dish, but I couldn't stop dipping my fries into it because it had a really interesting flavor. Besides the signs making sure you know they have 40 beers on tap, it had a nice ambiance. There are two sections - the front with the bar and tvs for people trying to catch a game and hang out with friends. We sat in the back section and had a bit of a quieter evening away from the tvs, and in the freezing weather, got a cozy spot right by the fireplace. So there are definitely options depending on what you want.
(4)
Bernie C.
I can't believe I haven't written an Alewife review yet! An extensive collection of beers. The recommendations are usually pretty great. I'm just going to mention the smokehouse burger and duck fat fries because they are in fact delicious and should be mentioned despite the fact that every person on here has mentioned them. Still, I am here to advocate for the veggies and the appetizers. The chicken liver pate was such a happy little jar of food for me. Tasty. Delicious toast. The crispy artichokes made me re-fall in love with artichokes. Even people who don't like artichokes will like the crispy artichokes. Because those artichokes that come from a can that people put on salads? Not really the best artichokes can taste. The tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons = adorable. Nothing too too special, but grilled cheese croutons? Cute factor. I am also a fan of their Brussel sprouts. I love brussel sprouts though. My future child will watch television shows where the child won't eat the Brussel sprouts and just laugh at their stupidity. I am also a fan of their macaroni and cheese. Cheesy. Very hot. Salty creamy happiness. Fellow diners, if you feel you must get the burger, get the burger. But definitely explore that lite fare side of the page to start or share.
(4)
Timothy S.
Had a great time at Alewife this evening. Val the bartender was amazing, well versed in her beer knowledge. Thank you so much for your great service! Had a few beers from their 40 tap system all of which were quite uncommon and served in the correct, clean, glassware. Everyone on the staff was quite attentive and super helpful, my glass was never left empty. I will definitely be back soon.
(5)
Kaylee H.
I really like Alewife's beer selection. They have an incredible array of really rare (hipster. beautifully hipster) beers. Also, I must say that I have *ahem* selflessly volunteered myself to quality check their kamakaze shots on multiple occasions. They have received my stamp of approval. I really like their burgers, which come with some nice duck fat fries. On Mondays they have a really fun trivia night, which I have never managed to win, but there are prizes for the winners.
(5)
Pissed off A.
Came by on a slow Sunday (plenty of seating) and ordered the bacon cheeseburger, medium rare, with duck fries - a truly satisfying meal! Now that football season is back, I'll definitely come back here again after catching a game!
(4)
Ravi D.
The waiters and servers are rude. Will never go there again! We went there when only 3 tables were being served. It took the restaurant about 15 minutes to serve water. I noted that the server didn't introduce himself and almost threw the glasses around.
(1)
Jennifer O.
I went here for lunch with some others who chose it. I ordered the catfish tacos, which were good, but nothing terribly special. Most of the other people with whom I went with, UMD employees and students, ordered the burger with duck fat fries and swear by it. The fries I snatched weren't the best executed, since they were a little floppy, but the burger looked like a HUGE amount of juicy meat. It took 20 minutes, maybe more between offering and receiving our food, though.
(3)
Meredith E.
I love a good ol night of drinking at the Alewife. The bartenders and servers are awesome. On Mondays there is trivia hosted by a local theatre professional. Alewife always has an epic beer list. I love trying something new and delicious every time. On my latest visit, I finally tried the food and was severely disappointed. The entire menu sounded fantastic, but the taste was not there. The smoke burger was bland and the duck fat fries were cold. The bun had a 'should have been tossed out yesterday' feel. The fish tacos were the fishiest of all fish taco I have ever tried. I could not even finish one. It could be the rare evil fish they use. Seriously inedible. Overall, I love this place, but will never order food again.
(4)
Sherris M.
Went here for an early Father's Day treat with the hubby. He read about it in the City Paper *hint, he finds most of our "spots" this way* Food great, atmosphere....LOUD...especially if it is game day (which it was on yesterday). The specialty drink I had, was the Great Gatzke was ehhhh. I wanted the Ginger Grant, but they didn't have any more basil (one of the key ingredients), the waiter said they could replace it with mint. Er-ummmm, basil v. mint. ummmmmmmmm, I'm going to go with NO!!! Never had the drink so I would at least like to taste what it's SUPPOSED to taste like before you go messing with it. The Great Gatzke was a'ight. I did order a 2nd, but that was because I had a nice "vodka" buzz from the first. Beer drinkers, they have an extensive Draft and Bottled selection, not really a beer drinker but I was impressed with all the options. Food came pretty quick. Starters were the mussels and grilled asparagus salad....both YUMMO. Entrees were Bluefish Tacos and a SmokeHouse Burger with a side of Fries, fried in Duck Fat. My 2nd experience with Duck Fat Frites, not as good as B & O Brasserie, but they were ok. After the game let out it got SUPER crowded. There was a William Donald Schaefer look alike standing in the entrance waiting for a table and then he, his head and his butt was next to my shoulder....THANKFULLY it was time to go. Would I go again, absolutely. We had a reservation and I would suggest you make one too, lest you have your butt on some poor unsuspecting diner's shoulder.
(4)
Jack R.
Mussels: disappointing in the extreme. I came to Baltimore and ordered seafood; the seafood I ate would've been sub-par if I'd ordered it in Nebraska. The broth was weak , there were a share of bad mussels on the plate, and they just didn't taste that good. On the other hand, the meat of the Smoke Burger was delicious. The burger in its entirety was pretty good, but needed *something* else. I tasted the delicious meat, but tasted little else, and it wasn't such an enormous patty that it was substantial in its own right. The beer selection is a positive, but not stunning for a place that markets itself as a specialty beer place. At Alewife the meal I had just didn't feel like it justified its price.
(2)
Will R.
Loved it. Great food and great beer selection. Place was very cool and servers were very cool. I wanted to go back, but there were too many options! If you like to eat and like to drink beer, go here Duck fries are always a treat
(4)
Justin W.
First of all, their beer list is amazing. However, it comes at a cost. I found their beers cost on average $2-$5 more than some other places. Of course, they have a bigger selection including things you can't get elsewhere. Their house cocktails all sound very interesting and the sips of them that I have had were quite good. Again, they come at a cost, but not too much more than you would expect. The food was consistently good...if you can find what you want. I am not picky and am perfectly content with a hamburger. $15 for a hamburger may be a lot, but it is always good. I found that on most occasions, it was cooked more than I had asked, but I never minded since it was still good and juicy, which I care much more about than how pink it is or isn't. The fries were also consistently good The bites of the other food again has been good, but they have a small selection. It got better last time I was there, but I would hesitate to take a picky eater there unless they see the menu first. The atmosphere is first rate. I really like the style they chose and the feel of the place. I do not know if it just coincidence, but every time I have gone recently, it has been trivia night. I tend to not care and ignore it but it could get annoying for some. I do not know when they have it so check first if you care.
(4)
Johanna B.
Mussels are tasty, good selection of beverages. Smoke burger and artichoke hearts were edible. Wouldn't go out of my way for the place, but i wouldn't kick and scream having to come if we were in the neighborhood.
(3)
Faith A.
We ended up here post Orioles game as we were hungry and wanted something within a shorter walking distance from our hotel due to the massive heat that the area was experiencing. I found it online, it had some decent reviews, and it was close, and we were able to make a reservation, that made this seem like a simple choice for us. In retrospect, I am not happy with this as I feel like Baltimore had a lot more better choices probably for us to experience and enjoy. Great beer selection, but myself or my husband were really not intro drinking that evening. I can see why some people may like it for that. The hostess was not the most friendly of individuals at all so that started things off a little bad. The food was just "okay"... I had a salad and it really somehow did not match up with the description as it had some items on it not listed that I had to eat around. Their menu seemed a tad overpriced for a lot of the entrees too. I wish that they had some of the lunch menu choices on their dinner menu as they were more in line with what someone is looking for post game or in the heat. With all of the choices in the area, we will not be back on our next visit to the area.
(2)
Korrin B.
Not likely to return. The waitress was not the friendliest person, they didn't have three of the four beers we asked for and the "vegan" black bean burger had no bun. I was not told this before ordering it, otherwise I would have just gotten a salad. Very lackluster. Cool atmosphere, though.
(2)
Justin K.
My wife and I finally had a chance to get here after making several attempts and just never following through with plans. We took some out of town friends here that were staying at the Hilton. It was around 7 pm Saturday and we were waiting for our friends to come down so that we could go and I thought I should call and see what the wait is like. Upon calling the girl was very helpful and actually stated that we could get a reservation at 7:45. SWEET! We around at about 7:30 where the same girl who helped us was dealing with some rude old broad stating she needed to see the place they were going to eat at before she would eat there and that her husband is getting frustrated. I hate broads like that. I believe my wife stated, "What a pathetic excuse for a woman, hiding behind her husband like that." Ouch. The people that walked in before us were told that it was an hour wait with no reservations and then we were seated immediately. NICE; great customer service on their behalf for accommodating us like that. It was truly appreciated. The Beer Menu. One of the main reasons I wanted to come here was the Beer list, (the second was the burger and I will get to that in a minute). To me the draught list was a little lack luster. They did have 21st Amendment on tap and some Stillwater brews. But not a ton else that floated my boat personally. (Yes, they had dogfish on tap.) I was disappointed...UNTIL I turned to the Bottle list. BAM!! That was a great list of brews. I went with the 21st Amendment Brew Free IPA and a Stillwater Stateside Saison (this is an awesome farmhouse ale, one of the best out there in my opinion). Both were delicious. Out friends had a Dark and Stormy and the Sangria, both stated they were very good. The Food. This is where I personally went wrong and not the restaurant. I ordered the Cubano sandwich. I know, I didn't order the burger and it was one of the reasons were there! I wasn't sure if I could handle it because I was just getting over that awful stomach bug going around. My wife DID order the burger and offered half to me because it was huge! The Cuban was honestly not that good. In fact it wasn't really a great Cuban at all. However, the fries were delicious, especially with the chipotle aioli. Now, wife gave me part of her burger and boy did I make an awful mistake by not ordering that. What a delicious burger and it melted in your mouth. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned and the brioche bun SET IT OFF! Next to the Hamilton Tavern this is the SECOND best hamburger in Baltimore. Sorry Alewife, Hamilton's is still the best...every time I think about the Hamilton Tavern Burger it is like food porn in my mind...IT'S THE PLEATS I SWEAR!! Moving on... Additionally I loved the ambiance of this place; low key, dimly lit, chill crowd, big open area with high ceilings and great background music playing. The high ceilings help control the noise level I believe. If you get a chance, definitely check out the vault which is right by the restrooms, it's pretty cool...this was an old bank after all. Here are a couple pointers...yes this place gets packed so make a reservation, otherwise you will have to wait for a table. If you didn't the bar is open and serves the full menu. Check out the bottle lists, there are a lot of rare beers in there and it is a solid list. Get the F-ing hamburger; you will be happy that you did. Overall, I loved this place. I gave it 4 stars because of the Cuban sandwich not being up to par with the rest of the food. The service was outstanding and so was the beer list. I will definitely be back to get that burger again because I am still cursing myself for not getting it while I was there. Stupid ME!!
(4)
Jen W.
I love the building and the space! I love that they re-purposed the building to be used as a restaurant. High ceilings, stained glass windows, dark wood and influences of neo-classical elements. You won't be able to miss the large glass window (former entrance) that marks the building's facade. That very same window became our seating location. it is the brightest spot in the restaurant and a great perch for people watching (outside and inside). Our lunch consisted of the lunch menu items including the creamy tomato soup served with a grilled cheese made with brioche. The soup was served in its own teapot and dispensed in a soup bowl at the table. Very nice touch! We both enjoyed the duck fat fries which were not really crisp, thin potato fries fried in duck fat and then dusted with sea salt and herbs. They were nice and not very greasy, it almost tasted healthy. If you order the fries separately, they come out in this huge paper cone. Plenty to share! We also ordered the shrimp po boy. It consisted of medium-sized shrimp breaded and fried then sandwiched between a roll and smeared with a spicy remoulade and shredded lettuce. Our lunch was tasty, comfort, pub food. The service was efficient and pleasant. This looks like a great place for drinks (there is a huge beer selection on tap-look at the huge chalkboard) and dinner, pre- and post-theater. I'd like to return for drinks and try a few more things off the menu which looked interesting.
(4)
Vicky D.
The smoke burger is the single most delicious burger you could ever order in Baltimore. Sure, it's $15 and takes about half an hour but it is amazing and comes with duck fat fries (which are like $8 if you order them on their own anyway). The patty is always cooked to perfection, and the burger comes standard with cheese and bacon. I have tried a few other things there and they were all pretty good, but the burger is definitely the star of the show. They have a great selection of beers, too. They can be pricey, but they can also be up to 13% alcohol (that's the highest I've seen, at least).
(5)
Nicole S.
I would agree with some of the other reviews- the location is ghetto across the street from the Hippodrome. I have eaten here twice and had a good experience both times. The duck fat fries and the fried artichokes were delicous. My boyfriend really likes the burgers. The wings are not spciy at all- so I wasn't a huge fan- but if spicy isn't your thing then you would probably like them. The crab cakes were also really good served with a fried green tomato. Tavern like atmosphere in an old building with historic touches. The service is about what you would expect at a place like this. They brought you what you needed in a fairly timely manner, nothing more nothing less. I would recommend this place for a casual dining experience.
(3)
Thomas J.
Good food and a great selection of draft beer.
(5)
James P.
Excellent collection drafts and bottles, plus the food is fantastic! The waitstaff was very helpful and knowledgeable on all the selections.
(5)
Dominique F.
Came here with a few coworkers and really enjoyed the plalce. The menu offers a variety of food including a ton of burgers, a salmon sandwich, mussels etc. Plus, they have a different menu for after 10PM. What makes this place special though is the variety of beer options they have that change regularly; would definitely be back!
(4)
Jodi A.
-4 stars for atmosphere, easy. Maybe even 5 stars for atmosphere. -1 star deduction for making our meal feel incredibly rushed, despite the place being relatively quiet/empty. We had drinks, appetizers and dinner for 2 and were out in less than 45 minutes
(3)
J. M.
It seemed more like a bar that gave birth to a restaurant than the other way round. Once on trivia night it made for a fairly enjoyable experience but that was just drinks. The overly excitable dorky d00d who seemed to be in charge of it, provoked ambivalent feelings over his seemingly rare but frantic experience of leadership. On my second and what is likely to be my last trip, the food failed to live up the threat of quality that the reviews seem to communicate and was borderline edible. A botched burger for me, and a forgettable sandwich for my friend left us thinking that perhaps it was best to avoid lingering over half-eaten plates. Soft music masked the silence, light was bursting through the glass doors/windows and left the empty furniture bathing in complete vacancy. It brought a transient wistfulness to the whole affair. The incomplete conversation. The abandoned food. And the abrupt departure left the bar empty once again with ghosts and staff peopling its booming halls.
(4)
Nate M.
Not only does Alewife have a great beer selection, but they also have some delicious food. They have a lot of beers (just like Max's) but their beer collection seems to vary less over time. Not a bad thing- they still have a huge number of choices available. The food is delicious, and you can't go wrong with anything you order (even if it might cost a bit more than you would expect). Unfortunately there isn't much else near Alewife- but that shouldn't stop you from going! You're fine walking around at night, just don't wander too far in certain directions. Also, be careful not to try to walk up the center steps to enter the building- its a trick and the real entrance is on the right side at ground level.
(4)
Stephanie M.
Alewife is a great little spot near the Hippodrome and it stays open late for the night owls like me. I've walked past this place so many times thinking it was just a pub, but the food here is pretty good. I have ordered their black bean burger and veggie wrap and both are really good. My friend loves the duck fat fries. Their draught beers are pretty yummy. My waitress suggested one for me (cherry ale or something) and although I can't remember the name of it, it was delicious!
(4)
Aaron W.
Great beer choices and outstanding smoke burger! The atmosphere is great and service is generally very good. The smoke burger is outstanding. They also have flight options with their beers which is very nice. Also, the smoke burger is outstanding.
(4)
Chris N.
Smoke burger and a Live Free IPA. FOODGASM. A must stop In Baltimore after an O's game.
(5)
Pascal P.
I tried Alewife out after they had coupon on Google deals. The food here is tasty but not really special enough to warrant the high prices. Like most people I gave their smoke burger with duck fat fries a try and it was quite good. The meat was flavorful (although not that juicy for a medium-rare burger) and the bun it came on was significantly better than average. The fries weren't very crisp though, and while they were very tasty when hot they were very greasy and became unappealing after just a few minutes of cooling down. This was a good meal, but $15 is quite a bit for a burger and in this case I don't think it was worth it. If you're looking for a bar with a lot of good beer on tap then Alewife is certainly worth visiting. Prices were a little high for Baltimore but they had a selection of drafts that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Service was prompt and friendly, and the interior of the building is cool looking. If the food were a bit cheaper I'd give Alewife four stars, but right now there's other brew pub food to be found for much lower prices.
(3)
Diana J.
One and done. Too bad I did not read the other reviews before I jumped into this restaurant. The food is okay, way over priced and the owner was a bit of a grump. We waited over 20 minutes for a server who was so rushed we had no clue what the "market price" for any item was. Waited over 45 minutes for the food to arrive - cold. For a restaurant that is so close to theaters and has been around for a time, you would think they would know how to handle crowds. Since the city of BMore has been shut down for the past few weeks, one would have hoped the owner would have been more accomodating when we asked him to close the blinds as the evening sun was blinding a number of patrons. Too many other GREAT places in BMore to ever go back.
(2)
Christina T.
I had really wanted to love this place. Honestly. The beer selection is on point and the fact it is a renovated bank building and has a wonderful dining atmosphere...but it is wildly inconsistent with its food. I usually settle for the Smoke Burger (which is not really living up to the hype) and the duck fat fries. At random, the fries range from burnt into oblivion, cold as hell to actually good fries. I went here on occasion when I lived closer to this part of Baltimore but once I moved to Mt Vernon (and closer to Brewer's Art), I never came back to Alewife.
(3)
Kamni G.
So being new to the city and being busy prevents one from having a yelp life sometimes but I scouted out this place and took the hubby there for his bday. His sister came into town to surprise him and all was well . But things got interesting really quick once we headed to Alewife. The drive leading to this venue is reminiscent of Oakland CA....yeah I said it. Now what made it even more interesting is the food. It was totally,utterly, and impressively yummy! The mac & cheese, duck fat fries and entrees were divine. The burger that takes 30 mins was def not worth it to those in our party of 4 that had it (2 people) however all 4 are clearly craving more beer, mac and cheese and duck fat fries. The atmosphere, an old bank building, very cool and nicely decorated. It made us all want to return and soon.
(4)
Lina J.
Was pretty disappointed with the food and especially the service at Alewife. We went for Saturday lunch and the place was pretty empty (there was maybe two other tables and a couple at the bar?) The sign said "Please seat yourself" but I didn't know that it also required unseating myself everytime I wanted to grab the attention of a server. We ordered the classic burger, black bean burger and fish and chips. The burgers were pretty good - especially the black bean burger. As were the duck fat fries that we ordered with the burgers. But that's where the positives end. Fish and chips were chewy and overcooked. First off, since the place wasn't even busy, I would've expected the servers to be more on top of their game. Instead, we literally waited 40 minutes for our food to come out. When it did, we asked for a side of BBQ sauce...which they didn't have. Well, what about honey mustard? Didn't seem to have that either. We had ordered duck fat fries as sides for both burgers but instead got one of them with regular fries. Since the servers decided to suddenly disappear, it took an additional 10 minutes to flag down someone (we eventually just went to the bartender, the only staff member we could see in the entire dining room). They gave us another order of fries but still...I really think it's ridiculous that we had to get up to flag someone down in such an empty room. Same treatment with the check...had to get up and flag down the bartender. What was supposed to be a quick hour lunch took twice as long because of sub-par service. I probably won't be returning anytime soon.
(2)
Amber M.
Handy Dandy Yelp app comes to the rescue again!!! Loved this place. It looks as though it were an old OLD bank building. we sat in the back and I saw an old vault door. Soooo cool. Waitress was extremely friendly and helped Hubs pick out a beer. Tasty. Ordered the blackbean burger and it was good. Weird in texture but still good. Whatever you do..order the smokehouse burger. THAT was a good burger. Hubs didn't talk for a good 10 min as he chowed down and almost bit off a finger. I was able to pry it from his hands to get a bite. I see why he turned into a caveman....lol! Good job Alewife!
(4)
Cherpumple F.
You need a drink? As in beer? This is the place for you with their giant list of draft beers. Tis a no frou frou, next door to the Hippodrome place great for some pre- or post-show drinkles. Food is okay--I still can't taste the duck fat in their duck fat fries. Maybe it was a duck on a diet.
(3)
DjPhaze S.
Great hangout. Neighborhood pub feel. The trivia was fun! The staff is quite friendly, charming and entertaining. Very nice bar with and ample selection of liquors to craft cocktails. We had appetizers that were pretty decent. I'd go back to try the dinner menu soon since it's conveniently close to Everyman's Theater and the Hippodrome.
(3)
Matthew J.
The food is either good or great. The prices are a little high though. Nice atmosphere and good service.
(4)
Steve H.
Ask Gabe, a Redskins fan so obviously a good guy, for beer and food recommendations. Tell him you know a guy who was with "Steve" (not me, but someone else in my group) and you'll be in for a treat. Allagash Black, Old Rasputin, Catfish Tacos, Duck Fries, and Smoke Burger are all great choices.
(4)
Ryan Z.
Alewife is one of my favorite finds in Baltimore. The atmosphere is great, and the owners did a superb job with the adaptive reuse of the old buildings that now make up this restaurant. I'm not much of a drinker, but I really enjoyed trying a couple beer samples (for free) and picking out the perfect pint with the help of a kindly waitress. What really stood out was how excellent the food was for being at a bar. We started with the truffled mac and cheese - rich and creamy with a couple of truffle shavings (nice touch!) and a 'grown-up' flavor courtesy of the truffle oil. The crab cakes were surprisingly delicious. I pushed off the corn and tomato dressing so I could focus on tasting the crab, and I was not let down. The cakes appeared to have been fried in a light beer batter which was a welcome surprise. These aren't going to be enormous jumbo lump cakes like you'd get at Faidley's or Gunning's but they were very good to say the least, and the delicate flavor of crab wasn't overwhelmed by any fillers. I had the smoke buger (without aioli), and I was not disappointed. While my burger came out medium instead of medium rare as ordered, I was very satisfied with the enormous (3/4 lb) juicy patty and applewood smoked bacon (which I might add was fried to perfection) all on slightly-charred brioche. It is definitely one of the top 10 burgers I've ever had. Downside: it was so big and so filling that I didn't have room for dessert!
(4)
Ross B.
One of the best burgers in baltimore. Prepare to wait for it though cause it takes a little while. It's worth it though. Also awesome beer selection. Make sure to sample something before you order it because you can't send it back but they are more than happy to sample it. Service kinda sucks though.
(4)
Thomas M.
I highly recommend this place... Beer is always fresh out of the tap and the food is amazing. If you have the pleasure of having Leila as your bartender you absolutely will not be disappointed. She is an amazing bartender!!!!
(5)
Jessica D.
I'll be honest I've eaten here once a few years ago and it was ok. Decided to try again and never got past the host stand. Last night in the tornado watch and extreme downpour I was driving to make my reservation at 6 pm. White knuckled and delayed I couldn't call to alert the restaurant of my problem. I arrived 20 minutes late and soaking wet (I mean soaking wet). As I approached the host stand I was greeted by an uninviting host who said "sorry I sat your table". I asked "You're kidding me? With the weather and tornado watches you decided that I was a no show? Why didn't you call me since when I made the reservation you asked for my cell phone?" His reply was I have 30-40 no shows a night so I sat people. " Is that my problem? Maybe he should consider taking NO reservations. I'm in the service business near DC. I see patients every 20 mins. If one of them is late my staff calls and makes sure they are okay and still coming. If they arrive more than 10 mins late we let them know that we will still see them, offer them coffee, tea, water and a snack. We accommodate them. The man ( he definitely wasn't gentle) last night did nothing of the sort. He was cold, unforgiving, and completely not customer focused. I will never give the restaurant a chance because of his lack of service. The least he could have said was "I'm sorry Mrs ---- you are late for your reservation and I gave your table away. I'd be happy to have your party join our happy hour crowd and get you a table ASAP". But instead after the iced cold shoulder we went next door to Forno where we greeted with smiles and warm towels.
(1)
Victoria S.
Thanks to my fellow yelpers this is my go-top spot whenever I am in Baltimore to see a show at the Hipp! I've been here a couple times now and I can honestly say I am a big fan. First of all, if you like beer. You will be in heaven. Not only do they have two pages of menu items of bottles of every type of hard cider, pale ale and pilsner imaginable they also have an extensive list of beers on draft. I try a few things every time I'm there. Of course I am always overwhelmed but the servers are normally so well informed they can walk you through the best choices. They offer to bring samples which is great, as so many choices, it's hard to pick the perfect ale! If you want a burger, you came to the right place. The Steakhouse burger is one of their specialties but NOTE: If you want it - order it IMMEDIATELY as it takes longer than anything else on the menu! Duck fat fries are divine as well as the Boar meatballs. Plenty of choices to please every palate. Some words to the wise. If you're going before a show at the Hippodrome, or on a night there IS a show. I'd definitely advise getting reservations. There is a lot of seating but best to be safe. Another tip, make sure to give yourself a lot of time. That delicious food needs time to be prepared. Go with enough time to have a few cocktails and enjoy your time there. My ONLY complaint is the noise level in the back room. High ceilings with minimal wall art makes it quite echoey - I had a hard time chatting the last time I was there. The first time I was in the main dining area and it was fine but when it fills up it gets LOUD.
(4)
Harold S.
Based on the reviews, it seemed like this place is hit or miss. Tonight was beyond miss. The sign at the podium says wait to be seated, however no one is there. I wandered into the bar where no one will acknowledge your.. The finally your shouted at to sit anywhere you want. After sitting it took over 10 minutes to get a beer. Finally we just left. The tables were sticky and the menus where very soiled as well. Will not return.
(1)
Marshall L.
Alewife has quickly become one of Baltimore's finest upscale bar offerings for a number of reasons. 1. The space is fantastic. They turned what used to be a bank into one of the most unique restaurants in town. Deep rich colors, high ceilings, and some of the original bank architecture all make for a fantastic atmosphere. 2. Great regular menu plus the occasional theme night. The smoke burger is worth all of the hype, but make sure to branch out no matter how much it's taunting you. The fish and chips are stellar, the salads are too. But don't get the black bean burger...all you're getting there is a mound of mushy black beans shaped into a patty (I had it today and never will again). I also really enjoy the occasional specialty menus they put together from time to time. They've done special nights with a snakehead fish theme, and they're doing a special wild game menu, with each course paired with a different New Belgium Lips of Faith beer. It's great to see a place so forward thinking with their menu. 3. A huge draught beer list. They really do cover all the bases here. Any type of lager or ale you can think of, priced to fit any budget, and anywhere from 4% to the mid teens ABV-wise. Alewife is going to have a long and storied history with Baltimore. It's going to be the kind of place that you always want to take out of town guests, and it's already established a stellar reputation in just a few short years.
(4)
Trevor B.
Had a really good experience on my second time around here, which helped to partially offset the ill effects from my lackluster first attempt. I tried the smoke burger and, for the most part, it lived up to the hype. At 11 oz., this thing is pretty massive and the smoked bacon is delicious. Duck fat fries were crispy and doused in seasoning (rosemary, etc.), which was a plus for me. The burger's a bit pricey at $15 ($12 at lunch), but you definitely won't leave hungry (unless you're used to eating unhealthy amounts of food all the time...). What really did it for me this time around was the great service. Our waitress was patient and more than willing to answer questions about the food & drink items. When she brought out the wrong beer in one round, she left it for us to try anyway. It's all about the little things...
(4)
Anna K.
My husband and I were out grocery shopping when he exclaimed, "I want a burger, somewhere I haven't been before." We rattled our brains and came up with Alewife. We'd heard positive things and hadn't tried it out yet. Sunday lunch? Perfect excuse. The place was largely empty (an O's game was going on and we were in for a late lunch) which was fine with me - I can see why some reviewers say this place gets loud with its high ceilings and very open space. There were four of us and we each got a flight (IPA, Belgian, Bar Choice, Local). The Bar choice flight was fun and I thoroughly enjoyed 3 of the 4 pours - all of which were unique to me. I wouldn't recommend the IPA or Belgian flight if you're looking for diverse flavors. For lunch we ordered: Smoke Burger (with duckfat fries A+) A+++ Beef Hot Dog - A/A+ Fish and Chips - A The Smoke burger and fries were the clear winner. This is a well thought out burger with great flavors. I'd recommend getting it Medium Rare if you roll that way. This place can definitely run you a little bit of money so be prepared for that. However, Alewife has got a great atmosphere, delicious food, and a varied beer selection. I highly recommend it.
(4)
Christopher D.
This place was AWESOME. The atmosphere was relaxed, they had the Ravens game on all the TVs, and there was plenty of seating. Both of our servers were friendly and helpful. They knew about the food and beers and were ready with suggestions. Speaking of, FREE BEER. Well, samples. There's something around forty beers on tap alone and they're all craft beers snobs like me would love, but they are happy to bring you a sample first so you know what you're getting if you're not sure which I absolutely love. I ended up with a Bear Republic Racer X which I'd never heard of and now love because of this place. The food was divine and made even better by almost all of it having a nice, deep smoky flavor. I had the smoke burger which used REAL bacon fried there, gouda and gruyere cheese, chipotle aiole and caramelized onions. It came out massive and was savory and smoky to the last bite. It came with a side of duck fat fries with a nice coating of salt and pepper that were the perfect balance between crispy and soft. My wife, the vegetarian, had an excellent selection of meal options. Chile relleno, black bean burger, truffle mac and cheese, and a couple more. She went with the grilled cheese and tomato soup and loved it. The soup had its own smoky flavor and the cheese was thoroughly melted and came off in strings. Not being a big fan of beer she had their root beer cocktail with house made root beer liqueur that tasted just like a root beer float with a nice bite at the end. We absolutely plan to return and highly recommend anyone looking for a great meal do as well. There is something here for everyone and as far as I can tell it's all delicious.
(5)
Scott C.
Ok, look, start at the review I did before and then read this thing. The team at Alewife is fun, unpretentious and really always aims to bring their best. Consistently becoming more and more busy, even without the crowd from the Hippodrome, it is proving to be the place to be on the west side of downtown. The menu has evolved a lot, with lots of changes coming for spring, and the beer selection is always wonderful. They'll pour a mean serving of Absinthe too. A hidden gem I just had last night on the menu was the Fennel Frites. Think tastier onion rings with a really tasty aioli. And they still make the best cream of crab soup ever. The mug club has heated up, with some of us just waiting on some Cantillon to show up to complete the quest. Why these guys will only brew 21 days a year makes me sad. Make friends with the staff, they are all great people and are really part of why the place is becoming such a success. It really is nice to see them putting Erik Maza in his place after his craptacular antics on the Midnight Sun Blog. Expect them to be around for a while. Pro-Tip: Make sure you know the Hippodrome schedule and call ahead for reservations. During the pre-show rush the bar area only gets a limited menu, so you'll need a table if you want all the goodness. Pro-Tip #2: If you are there on a busy night and need help navigating the beer menu, look for one of the beer geek regulars. We all love to talk about beers and are more than willing to take some burden off the bartenders (this gets everyone served faster because they don't have to walk you through the menu).
(5)
Seth B.
I really wanted to love this place, based on the excellent beer selection and ambience of the building (Is this maybe an old bank building?) At the end, I liked it and will return but was not blown away. We arrived around 7 PM on a Saturday. The hostess was welcoming and found us a table within 10 minutes without a reservation. This place gets a big pre-theater crowd as it's across the street from the Hippodrome so keep that in mind when you go. The service was friendly but slow. Our server seemed to disappear for chunks of time and I needed to flag him down a few times. The draft beer selection is solid and the bottle list is one of the most impressive I've seen. They constantly rotate their bottles and have a number of rarities at any one time. The biggest letdown for me was the food. I ordered the gumbo ($18) and was unimpressed. For the price it wasn't what I was hoping for. My dining partner, however, loved her burger and duck fat fries so maybe I ordered the wrong thing. Anyway, I will return, but perhaps not on a Saturday evening and I will order something else to eat.
(3)
Valarie G.
I came here for a beer dinner before the hurricane. I enjoyed the atmosphere greatly and the service was friendly. It is a great location. I must come back and try it out when it is not a special event, but I was very impressed.
(4)
Anneke M.
Great atmosphere, in an old converted bank building near the Hippodrome. Red painted walls give the place a bold but comfortable vibe. Two huge blackboards house the place's ever-changing beer list, with something for pretty much any beer palate. The bartenders are all very knowledgeable and were totally willing to spend a minute or two helping me choose, even when they were a little bit busy. If you are planning on getting dinner (and you aren't going to the Hippodrome after), waiting until 8 means a much calmer dining room and more attention from the staff . If you don't mind the noise level that comes with a packed house, then of course go before 8. I've eaten there on two separate occasions. The first time, I had the smoke burger and the duck fat fries. Both were fantastic. The burger took a little while to come out, but they warn you of that in the menu so I can't complain about that. The second time I went, I had the smoked tomato soup and the fennel frites. The soup was fantastic, the perfect mix of smoky richness mixed with the tangy tomato. The fennel frites I wasn't as crazy about, they had an odd texture that didn't jive well with me. My friends had the airliner chicken plate which they raved about, and the alewife salad which got good reviews.
(4)
Erin C.
Love the interior--cool historical reuse. Good beer list! Are you vegetarian? Look! Awesome! There are things on the menu for you! Unfortunately, they don't taste that great. Serviceable, sure. But otherwise, no reason to come back unless you're just in the mood for some beer. (We got the Tomato Soup/Grilled Cheese and Black Bean Burger before seeing a show at The Hippodrome).
(2)
Chris S.
If you come to the Inner Harbor, this is a must stop. Great food and beer. It's a good stop before and after the O's games since its a block away from Camden Yards.
(5)
Amy W.
**Update again** Went back on another outing...definitely try the Brussel sprout appetizer!!! Delicious... Been at least 5 times now And while the first time I would have given them 4 stars, the last 2 times, I have been inclined to give them lower ratings. Here's my overall impression: The beer selection is outstanding. And for the most part, their staff is highly knowledgeable about the beer - which if you are going to have that many draft beers, you better be able to answer questions and offer tastings - which they can and do. So if you want a nice spot to try some interesting beer, then this is a great place for that. The first time we went, the couple we went with had hyped up the burger so much that I didn't even look at the menu - I just ordered the Smoke Burger. Which was very good - the apple-wood smoke bacon gives it a really nice flavor. And the blend of Gouda and Gruyere cheeses are very good also. The beef itself makes a very good burger. Overall a very good burger (certainly not the BEST burger in town - but a solid A-). And the duck fat fries are some of the best in town (Salt has some of THE best - but these are a pretty close 2nd.) They took the quesadilla off the menu because peaches are out of season - why not offer a fall/winter version with some other option? Curious. I was looking forward to trying them. Their Alewife salad is delicious. A lot of really great flavor. I tried it with the grilled chicken (which was grilled chicken - meh). But the salad itself was very good. The asparagus was a nice touch and different addition to this type of salad. I didn't want anything heavy since we were going to theatre. The dressing was nice. So here is my one HUGE GRIPE: no dessert? COME ON??? I don't care if the chef doesn't "DO" desserts. Pick up the phone and outsource dude! There are a ton of great local places that you could get desserts from. No offense but that the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me after my last outing there. And the fact that you put a hot chocolate on your menu and thought you could pass it off as dessert just infuriated me more because you don't offer a non-alcoholic version and I couldn't have alcohol! COME ON!!!!!! You offer some pretty cool things on your menu, offering a cool cookie plate, some interesting donuts with a chocolate pudding or a creme brulee would not be a stretch! I was really disappointed because I wanted to cap my meal off with something sweet and couldn't. So I'll stop griping about it, but I doubt I will go back until they fix this. I enjoy dessert when I go out to eat, and this truly bugs me. Lastly, the staff on all three outings has been awesome. Every time we have always had very attentive staff - always offering samples, and the food has always come in a fairly reasonable timeframe in my opinion. Good pace to the meal. Enjoy!
(4)
Chris K.
Would have given a 4 but the staff had no energy. Not ridiculous slow but slower than what I'm use to. Food was really good, I recommend the grilled cheese and tomato soup. BTW I went on a Sunday maybe that had something to do with it.
(3)
Rick B.
Great foodie food, awesome beers for aficionado's, and hip atmosphere.
(4)
Amanda H.
This is a great place to eat before the theater, just make sure and make reservations. The atmosphere was fun and the staff very friendly and efficient. The food was great! I had the fried chicken and my husband had the burger and we were both very happy with our choices..
(4)
Kara W.
Made a last minute reservation via OpenTable for 8:15pm on a Friday night. Though, I don't really understand the point of making a reservation to sit in an area which could easily be considered the bar- very noisy and cramped. The distinction between bar and restaurant can become muddled so easily. But, I've read so many reviews about the burgers here that I had to get one,so I pressed on. Plus, 95% of the diners were enjoying burgers, so things looked promising. Boy, am I glad that I did (sort of). It was well-seasoned and very succulent. The menu description reads: "an 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, served with Duck Fat Fries." And, that's pretty accurate. The fries are shoestring-style so they get cold quickly. But, I was so engrossed with my burger that it didn't bother me. I washed it down with a glass of Allagash White- ordered at the recommendation of our server because they were our of Zombie Killer. I was not disappointed. The lightness and crispiness of the beer complemented the burger well. It took all of my strength to eat only half the burger in an attempt to save room for dessert (and maybe another beer). So, you can imagine my dismay when the server slapped the check down on the table without offering either. Good to know that someone is watching my waistline when I obviously am not.
(3)
C D.
This place has good beer. The food was slightly above average. The service sucked!
(2)
Dave F.
Eaten (and drank) here numerous times. Nice beer selection, and the lunch selections are really good. Loved the hot dog, and the duck fat fries were good too.
(5)
Johnny Q.
Cool looking old school type place. Used to be an old bank that was made into a speak easy. Over 40 beer selections on tap to choose from. Drinks were strong and made very professionally. Had the Potomac Catfish Tacos which did the trick. Not too filling though but tasty. I would recommend the Smokehouse Burger if you want a heavier meal. Not in the best of neighborhoods so it gets pretty sketchy around there but I guess thats just Baltimore
(5)
David W.
Good food, but service seems to be an afterthought (or they are understaffed). There should be no reason at 6:00 on a Saturday afternoon to have to wait for anything. The thai wings were decent, but the brussel sprouts needed more seasoning. My fish tacos were good. The beer list is a bit overwhelming, but since the waiter was doing something else, I had time to pick something, and I enjoyed my pick. Might go back, it is too convenient to the Hippodrome to ignore it completely.
(3)
Demetrios G.
I went here before the Poe seance event a couple months ago. The beer and location were great. There's an old bank vault in the back so make sure you go to the bathroom. The food was decent but nothing to write home about. I had the smoke burger which had a good taste but somehow left me unsatisfied. Maybe I'm just to used to the smashburger I make on the cast iron at home. That being said the tap list will keep me coming back and I will give the food another try.
(3)
Ali P.
Landed here on my first night in Baltimore after a quick search for a place with a fantastic draught beer selection, a better than average late night menu, and a TV with the finals on. I'm pleasantly surprised to report that I found exactly that, and more.... I walk in, The Black Keys are playing in the background, the game is on, and I find a wall of beers on tap, including some local favorites of mine from home. Lagunitas, Stone, Green Flash, you name it, all of California's best craft beer made an appearance on their menu. However, opting for something I didn't see regularly at home, I ordered a Victory IPA and was pleased. The late night menu really reminded me of beer bars in the city (SF) and had a great selection of gastronomical delights. I ended up ordering from the Late Night menu the Tempura Fennel Frites and the Smoked Tomato Soup. Both were fantastic and WAY more than I could have asked for at 11:30pm on a Tuesday night. Funny, the user below said her drive to this place reminded her of Oakland, and those were my thoughts exactly. Except I WALKED... therefore feeling a bit sketched out for the walk home. Luckily, and completely unexpectedly the bartender and bar back where the sweetest people ever and felt my palpable sketched-outness. The bar back drove me home and I could not have been more thankful. From an ambiance, customer service, food, and libations standpoint, I would highly recommend this spot to locals and visitors alike.
(5)
Mike L.
When you approach Alewife, you really don't know what to expect. It's close to Camden Yards, so it's exceedingly convenient if you're looking for a place to slam a few beers after an O's game, not much of a walk at all. Finally approaching the joint, it almost doesn't seem like a restaurant that serves as many beers as it does. The appearance itself from the outside makes me immediately think of a lounge type of environment, that all changes once you go inside. Once you enter Alewife, you go up some steps and seat yourself. At that point, you help yourself to a menu or ask for one and peruse their catalog of extensive beer. Aside from the fairly enormous beer selection (Monterey Area residents reading this review, think of a less contemporary CRBC), I had heard that they had amazing food, of course I had to try it. I ended up ordering their famous Smoke Burger (which wasn't worth $15 but whatever) with Duck Fat Fries (amazing) and a glass of Allegash Blonde, which initially excited me because the only Allegash Beer I ever had was Allegash White, which is already scarce enough as it is. They also had a stout version of this called Allegash Black which looked just as intriguing. If you're a beer connosieur, definitely give Alewife a chance. Coming from the West Coast, it blew my mind to see beers that I have only heard about all at my disposal. I'm going to have a good ol' time the next time I'm in Baltimore!
(4)
Oscar S.
Food was good, the place is pretty cool the service is awful. There seemed to be one waitress for the entire place.
(2)
Jessica D.
Great food and beer choices. Had the popular burger. Tasty and filling. Enjoyed the atmosphere. It was a Friday night and they were busy due to a show. Dining room was packed and there was two spaces left at the bar. We grabbed it and then bar was packed too. Standing room only. Perfect timing for us to be able to sit and eat. Great start to our stay in Baltimore.
(4)
Maria L.
This was my first trip to Ale Wife and I was enthusiastic to go because I heard good stuff about their fish tacos. The place definitely has a unique look to it: there is large abstract art all over the walls, a giant wall dedicated to a chalk-written list of beers they have, there is a wall-length window which has outer shutters that open to allow a full view out onto the street, the tables are a nice dark wood, the water is served in glass jars, and the coolest part is a second floor balcony with two tables that overlooks the main dining area. The real issue came with the service and the food. Our waitress, a tall blonde named Alicia, was lifeless and bordering rude in her disinterest with our party. We ordered when there were only three tables seated and while our appetizer came out in decent time, we waited 42 minutes for fish tacos (fish..not steak or big ole' burgers). When they did come out they were cold; in a neutral tone I told her they were cold and she thought the best reply was "well the fish doesn't normally come out piping hot". Well. She told her manager on her own accord and they did remove one order of it. I decided I'd take the 2 of 3 home and pop them in the oven later, and they do have these neat black-carton to-go boxes. I wouldn't go back here to eat. The bar?--maybe.
(2)
Mike M.
Burger was excellent. Fish tacos were good but served a little cold. Great beer selection but not the cheapest place.
(4)
Melissa R.
DISCLAIMER: This review is coming from a preggo who could not enjoy their main attraction (BEER!) and is purely based on the food. Came her twice on my recent trip to Baltimore. First time around I had the tomato soup with grilled cheese. The grilled cheese was a little smaller than expected, but otherwise the meal was solid. Nothing to elaborate on. The big suprise was that they had ginger beer, huge kudos! Second time was for carryout. Their carryout containers were bigger than the bag to carry them in, so they were put in sideways. The crabcakes did not survive the trip back to the hotel. Likely they would have been much better if I ate them @ Alewife. Can't recommend this place on food alone, but the atosphere was chill and their beer selection was superb (accompanied by a very knowledgeable bartender.). Will have to give this place a 2nd try once I pop.
(3)
Colleen R.
It is a great place to go if you enjoy beer. The menu, however is extremely limited (it IS a pub), unremarkable and very expensive. My companions loved the huge burgers. My fish tacos were cold and drippy. The pub used to be a bank in an early life. The atmosphere is loud and boisterous but we were lucky to be placed in an old vault. We we extremely disappointed to learn that not only do they not recognize birthdays (we were celebrating two) but they charge $25 if you bring in your own birthday cake. We spent close to $200 for five people and had to go elsewhere to enjoy our cake.
(2)
Molly S.
My roommate and I were searching for a specific kind of beer, and our search led us to finding Lucy's Irish Pub, which is the bar that used to occupy the stunning old bank building that is now Alewife. It is located conveniently near the Lexington Market Light Rail stop, and within a few blocks of a Metro stop, which means that even if you don't have a car, you can easily access this amazing spot. The building from the outside is stunning; its pristine white exterior sets it apart from the other buildings on the block, so we had no trouble at all finding it. The interior doesn't disappoint, either; the walls are a warm burgundy and all the wood, on the tables and bar, is rich and dark. The high ceiling is reminiscent of the building's original origins, paneled with the same dark wood that composes the rest of the building's trimmings. The list of 40 beers on draft is mindblowing; the selection is truly amazing. You truly would have to be a boring human being to come here and order a Bud Light or a Natty Boh. In addition to being an amazing assortment of delicious craft beers, the list is updated every few days, so it will never be quite the same. The cocktail and wine lists are also extremely impressive; I will definitely be sampling from them next time I come back (which might be as soon as tonight). The bartenders were friendly and extremely helpful, and the music playing was the perfect playlist for some late night beers with good friends. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys delicious beer, great service and good music in a friendly, intimate atmosphere.
(5)
Erin L.
I have to amend my previous review and knock Alewife down a few notches with regard to customer service. I arrived to Alewife at 430 on a Friday requesting a table of 3 for myself, my brother and SIL. I was declined. The hostess informed me that they were completely booked. I looked around the empty dining room, finding it hard to believe that they didn't have room for just three more people. She claimed there was a private party coming in, and since there was a show at the theater, they couldn't take anyone else. Since I was the only person waiting in the front, I politely asked her to please just check and see if there was any way she could make an exception. It really seemed absurd to be turned away from a place that wasn't even crowded. The hostess huffed and puffed at the podium for a minute or two before saying that there was absolutely no way. I find it hard to believe that there was no room to squeeze a measly three top in. She even chastised me for not having reservations. I didn't think I needed a reso at 430 in the afternoon, and by the emptiness of the restaurant, you'd think the servers might have wanted the extra money. Clearly Alewife doesn't need the extra money, since they were so quick to turn away paying customers and refer us to Frank & Nic's, down the street. (For the record, F&N was amazing alternative.) When I worked in the restaurant biz, customers were everything, and unless the dining room was full, we could always find someone willing to wait on an extra 3-top. Or, they should have put a sign up that said "Closed for Private Party." Just saying..... Alewife, get off your high horse. Your food is good, but arrogance can really ruin a good thing. I live just down the street, but I will not be returning. I'd rather patronize places who want my business.
(2)
Jo D.
Delicious food and great atmosphere! i went before a performance at Everyman Theatre and really enjoyed one of the burgers! Lots of beers and people of all ages and styles. Only downside is that it is a bit loud-it is in interesting, older building so the acoustics are not great.
(5)
Jannelle A.
Occasion: Casual dinner with a friend What I had: Smokehouse burger, fries, and a few house brews Food Review: The smokehouse burger was ridiculously delicious! Interesting pairing of ingredients and flavors, but admittedly it was on the greasy side. It will definitely satisfy your carb/fat intake for a few days, but you'll be too busy devouring your smokehouse to think about that until it's too late... The fries were also delicious, but they came out warm and were cold within 5 minutes. The beer selection is good. Service Review: It was decent. I went for dinner on a Thursday night @7pm, and the place was packed. We elected to sit at the bar because we didn't have time to wait the estimated 40 mins for another table to open up. The time in which the food came out was acceptable, however, I had to flag down the bartender a few times to get her attention. Venue Review: The interior of this building is unique, but the neighborhood can be pretty dicey at night. Be careful. Close proximity to Lexington Market. (If you're from Bmore, you know to stay away at night...) Take-Home Point: The burger is glorious, but the price point is a bit high for what you get. I've been to much fancier restaurants, no less in cities like LA and NYC, that offer similar burgers for less $$.
(3)
Kyla C.
Never been to Baltimore before so my only restaurant experience there was a good one. This place has a pretty cool vibe but the surrounding area is kind of dead, besides the theatre across the street. I ordered the burger with duck fat fries and it was delicious! The patty was substantial and it was super filling. The fries were awesome. The beer list was awesome as well. I tried three different drafts and there were all tasty. I would come back for the beer alone.
(4)
Rachel C.
The smoke burger really was amazing. I would come here again for the burger alone and for the vast beer selection, all reasonably priced. The mussels are okay, a little pricey for what they are, though they do come with the duck fat fries. A little red flag here: we assumed the mussels were happy hour price, as were our beers (referencing an online happy hour menu Alewife advertises). This was not the case. Only Heavy Seas products were, though our bartender failed to tell us this until we asked. Other than this little glitch, the service was excellent! Wonderful bartenders and super attentive. Can't speak on behalf of the wait staff but sitting at the bar and sampling beers is most likely the better option regardless.
(3)
Beau C.
Great beer selection and a really cool building. Just beware: our lunch took forever! We were at a conference downtown and had an hour break. We did not make it. Really enjoyed the food: I had fish tacos which were yummy--good mix of flavors and textures. I was jealous though of the folks at the table who got burgers...they looked amazing. If you have time to kill, drop in and eat.
(4)
Jan T.
Looking for an option for a good, somewhat reasonable priced dinner prior to the Anthony Bourdain event at the Hippodrome, the benevolent algorithm of Yelp pointed me toward this "upscale dining" tavern located right across the street from the show. Seeing the good reviews, and the very nice menu, I made reservations for 6:15, hoping to have a relaxed dinner prior to the 8pm start of the show. Good thing I did. We arrived at 6 pm, a bit early, but were seated immediately. The menu was placed in front of us, and someone brought us water. 10 minutes later we could finally order our drinks, when the waiter came around, took the drinks order, then walked away, not to be seen again for another 10 minutes. At that point came the first odd question of the night, to two people at a table with open menus "Oh, you want to order food too?". Why yes, yes, that is the intention. He takes our order of two smoke burgers and a starter of wild boar meatballs, then leaves. It is now 6:20. 6:40. Drinks arrive, the older couple at the table two down from us (who were there before us) finally gets to order their dinner, after the man stood up and has his first of 3 chats with the manager about the service. The server apologizes because "the bar is so busy tonight, it's unusual". Well, it is a theatre night, and your restaurant does bill itself as a "theatre restaurant" on the website, so there is that. 7:15. Our appetizers finally make it out. It's 4 meatballs, decent size, with some chili-limi sauced carrots and daikon. Tasty, but luke-warm due to sitting on the hot plate until they had all the orders together for the various (now about 6) semi-annoyed parties sitting in the smaller dining room and all those sitting in the main dining area. 7:30 - half an hour to show time. I intended to be on my way to the show now, so I pull the server over and rather forcefully tell him that we need our dinner soon since we have show tickets. Everyone else does the same. 7:35. Dinner is delivered to the table next to us, which walked in at 7:10, so I am about to go full Gordon Ramsey. My girlfriend smiles, and I keep just calm enough to spare the server and manager some choice words. 7:40. Dinner finally arrives. The smoke burger is delicious and comes with duckfat fries, which are also good. I ask for the check while we are eating, which pisses me off, but pales compared to the fact that we are now forced to have a good $15 burger and fries in the same time frame that one would take to have a $1 burger from a fast food joint. The server tries to redeem himself by offering us a free round of drinks, for which it is now much too late. 7:50. We have paid (he left the first round of drinks on the check but I did not have time to complain about that), we are leaving this restaurant. Fortunately half the remaining audience made the same choice, so Bourdain starts 10 minutes late. In summation, this is a Fells Point bar in a non-Fells Point setting with decent food but service that goes beyond utterly incompetent, especially when they get busy. 2 stars are given for food, .1 stars for the server's ironic attempt to redeem himself and his establishment. I will not be returning, nor ever recommend this restaurant to others.
(2)
Ashley A.
Worst service I've ever had. The wench bartender was more concerned about drinking with her friends then servicing customers.
(1)
Kyle C.
My experience at Alewife was amazing. I went with my girlfriend and several of her friends. A few of us got there before the rest of the group and we were greeted outside by the hostess, she seemed to be on her smoke break but was incredibly hospitable and stopped to take us inside and had us quickly seated before the time our reservation for 8:15pm was set for (mind you the reservation was for 11 people). At most places I would've expected the employee to just pass us off to someone inside but I was pleasantly surprised she sat us herself...definite plus. The atmosphere inside was really relaxed and the waitress we had was fantastic. She gave us a good rundown on a few beers that were suggested as well as some food choices. I've seen other reviews on here complaining about the timing of food/drinks coming out and we didn't have anything like that during our time here. Like I said before, the waitress was serving 11 people and the drinks came out incredibly fast as did the food. She stopped by frequently enough to make sure we were always well taken care of and it was much appreciated by all of us. Now comes the food, it was absolutely as delicious as advertised. I had the smoke burger that came with a side of duck fries. It was everything I could have imagined and more. Everything was perfectly cooked and put together, and several of the people at the table who ordered the same were raving about it. If you want a relaxed, laid back lunch or dinner with great service, nice atmosphere and everything in between, come to Alewife.
(5)
Geoffrey C.
Alewife, oh how I stumbled upon thee. I was hungry after a concert at the arena and were looking for options to eat. Place was recommended on Yelp and I decided to go on a whim. Wasn't feeling American gastropub food, but really had no choice. Glad I went! In short, the smoke burger is succulent; the best burger I've ever had. Words can not describe how juicy and tasty it was. If you can imagine having sex with a burger, that was what I experienced. The melange of meat and soft cheeses makes for a delectable affair. I usually like my burgers pink on the inside and it was just right at medium. The duck fat fries, albeit unhealthy, were equally tasty. The soup was good as was their take on a chopped salad. Drink selection was top notch, but I couldn't care less. Service was great too. The smoke burger is the main event here fellas. Blended choice meat with gruyere and smoked gouda topped with a garlic aioli brioche bun!
(5)
John J.
Great beer selection..unfortunately I ordered the moules frites. My short lived experience with this order, out of the first 5 mussels 2 weren't even de-bearded, and the other 3 were cooked even though they were obviously dead. The bar staff wasn't concerned about this information , they simply told me no one else complained. Until they're sick tonight!
(2)
Danielle W.
This is our default post-play at Hippodrome stop. The decoration is artsy-contemporary-cool. I especially love the large paintings on the walls. Awesome beer selection - I think like 40 on tap and the food we've had has all been pretty impressive. I'm especially partial to the duck fat fries and the caprese salad starters. We'll be back and continue working our way though the menu!
(4)
Jesus O.
The "Smoke Burger" is absolutely delicious. The atmosphere is a bit Hipster which I don't particularly enjoy. Beer selection is pretty decent.
(4)
Tom N.
Alewife is a solid 4-stars for me. While they do offer a terrific and large craft beer list along with some pretty eclectic and tasty food dishes, the setting is not the coolest and the prices are usually pretty high. Overall, I come back here frequently (I live practically next door) but it's not one of my first choices.
(4)
Ethan L.
Located not too far from the Lexington Market subway station Alewife is a place easy to miss. Entering though you are in a giant large ceiling building that has been redecorated and screaming new gentrified fashion, while still remaining old world charm. The patronage is diverse, and the place was very busy for a Tuesday night when I visited. Aside from one foul mouth racist drunk in the corner trying to stir things up (who didn't last long), everything here is quite comfortable and pleasant. The building and crowd reminds me a lot of the nice places I frequent to drink in DC, although the clientel in Baltimore is classic locals who are different from their nearby DC counterparts. Service is ok, some minor attitude but nothing you can't really fault. Beer selection here is a step up and also contains lots of good glassware to go with it. Didn't get to try all the food, but the fries in duck fat never fail, and the burger is rich if perhaps a little too rare but no major complaints. I really like the atmosphere of this place the most, it really feels and gives me an idea of what the residents of Baltimore look like and what their city has to offer, and the building is real nice inside. I will always keep this place on my radar when visiting Charm City.
(4)
Jon W.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect, though I have to say it was the menu that won me over. So my wife and I went there with high expectations, based on both the menu and the number of stars in it's yelp rating. What we got was a very uneven experience. I read several reviews praising the Smoke Burger, so I ordered that. On the whole I wasn't disappointed, though the caramelized cipollini onion wasn't really caramelized, though rather delicious all the same. The burger came as requested, Medium Well, and I have to commend them for it is one of the best burgers I've ever enjoyed. The applewood smoked bacon, however was exceedingly undercooked and was therefore removed from my plate as i find very undercooked bacon, a very unpleasant experience. The calamari, though overcooked, was tasty and enjoyable. when i first looked at it i was afraid that it was going to be excessively battered but the batter was actually pleasant and not overbearing. The wait staff is pleasant and friendly. The Mac and Cheese, frankly was a bit of a disappointment. It's basically a clean dish smothered in La Tourangelle Infused White Truffle Oil. Which is remarkably easy to overuse in any dish. It had lots of promise but simply did not deliver. Neither was my wife was not impressed with the blue catfish tacos, she found them a bit "insipid". Both of us thoroughly enjoyed the burger with duck fat fried potatoes and we would both return for the burger and the calamari. Provided that the bacon is properly cooked next time. 3 stars - only for the Smoke burger, which was the highlight of the meal.
(3)
Gene L.
This gets a 4 only because I haven't tried everything yet. We came here as a last stop for the night, so I haven't had the chance, or fortune, of trying the smoke burger. All the food we had from soups to fries were delicious. The service was great and good drink selection.
(4)
Katherine S.
We came in here for brunch this past weekend. There was noone else there so we had the place to ourselves. That said, we waited what seemed like an odd amount of time for our food. Maybe ours was the first order of the day, but we waited 40 minutes or so for our burgers. I had the smoke burger, which was great, but I don't know that it was a $15 burger. I also wasn't that impressed with how small the brunch menu was. All in all, this place was pretty unobjectionable, but I think the food is pretty overpriced, which would stop me coming back.
(4)
Jenn H.
So. This place is awesome! The service is on point. Every time I have been, the service is always über friendly, prompt, and attentive. The atmosphere: very sports bar scene but the most bestest part about this bar is the fact that they do not serve you up what I would consider, your typically prepared bar food. It has a gourmet flair and it is YUMMY! I mean the burger (with munster cheese, I think) was delish, the duck fat French fries were/always are so yummy :) Mmmm! Every time I go I HAVE to have them. Even my mom loves them and she doesn't even really do fries. But she eats mine every time :) The calamari was really good too. I got the salad which was prepared well. Very tasty. No complaints. And the crab cakes were good! Like really good! The mixed drinks were good too. They make a mean dirty martini. And the assortment of beers is just too much....in a good way of course. They have this huge chalk board on the wall with all the beers they have during that season. Bomb! And they are on draft! Bomb! Gotta love that. Outside of that, they have a pretty sweet beer menu that is just to die for. If you appreciate beer, you'll love this place. If you appreciate food, see comment above :) And if you love a live atmosphere for young professionals and sports fans alike, refer to above comment. I am a return customer and I recommend this place to friends :)
(5)
Meredith J.
I'll let you read previous posts about the burgers, but they really are delicious! So, I'll focus on the bar. The area where Alewife is located isn't too bad but if you are planning on leaving and walking to bars, have a few in mind. I really like how the bar and restaurant is set-up. It's very open and there is more space then you'd expect. The beer selection is really good and reasonably priced. Also, it never seems to be too crowded, so getting a beer isn't a huge problem.
(5)
Kelly G.
This place is a great find in an area that is seriously lacking in nice restaurants. It's sometimes difficult to navigate whether you need to wait for a hostess to seat you or seat yourself - I always end up just seating myself on the first floor. The beer selection is wonderful, very extensive and something for everyone and the food is pretty good as well (the fish tacos were good, but very very messy!) It gets very crowded during games with only a few flat screens near the bar area.
(4)
Sam N.
Tons of drafts being offered, duck fat fries, cool takes on burgers, did I mentioned duck fat fries?!?! The decor isn't something to write home about, but the large beer selections and the crowds it attracts can be exciting when the Orioles are playing!
(4)
Ruth C.
3 star grub sampling, 4 star bar; reminds me of a mini-Brickskeller. $10 credit card minimum is easy to break. Managed to find street parking right outside. Pretty space that has an interesting mix of industrial chic and Prohibition-hijacked church. Our fellow bar patrons were riveted to the soccer match on-screen, and a few white-collar drones chatted over a power lunch by the door. Thanks to Joey for being such a patient and friendly bartender as Mike and I pored over the menus. Good selection of Allagash and Dogfish brews, with a healthy dash of Flying Dog, Stone, Troegs, Victory, and Heavy Seas. I finally settled on an Allagash Black for lack of a Justin C in my pocket. As tempting as the The Baltimore cocktail looked, it sadly felt a bit early in the day for me to be knocking back anything with gin in it. Unfortunately, most of the menu that I had ogled in passing turned out to be for dinner only. Sorry Snorlax, no seared crab cakes, chorizo mussels, smoked tomato & goat cheese flan, blue catfish tacos, airliner chicken breast, or grilled skirt steak. Not even a side of tempura fennel frites to be had at midday. So we split an Alewife salad and each got a smoke burger. Salad was chock full of goodies, dressed just enough to keep the blue cheese from dominating. Burgers were cooked to order with juicy, flavorful patties. I forwent the steak knife and let the delicious grease drip down my arm. Bacon was reasonably crisp, and the gouda and gruyere played nicely with the cipollinis. We did a side-by-side comparison of the kettle chips versus the herbed duck fat fries, and for overall balance the chips won. I was ambivalent about the chipotle aioli. The fries were certainly tasty, but added impending food coma to an already heavy dish. I'm glad I boxed up my leftovers because it made for great drunk food later that night. I'll be back for dinner.
(4)
Emily P.
I like their smoke burger, but it wasn't out of this world for me as it was for many others who have commented about it on yelp. However, I LOVE their Blue Catfish Tacos, duck fat fries with aioli, and some of their recently added items to menu: duck confit poutine and truffled mac&cheese (you MUST try these new items!). I would come back time and time again for these dishes. Many of their desserts are delicious as well. I've tried their thai peanut wings, Kobe Beef Hot Dog, cubano, smoked tomato soup and pressed cuban bread...all of which were okay. I would probably end up not ordering these items again.
(4)
Tony P.
A solidly average gastropub. I stopped here on an early evening so there was no crowd at all. The service was attentive at the bar. The beer list has a good assortment of craft brews and belgians. I settled on two selections from Stone. Their Levitation and Smoke Porter. The buffalo soup with blue cheese crumble and crostini was interesting and flavorful. It had the flavor characteristics of buffalo wings; spicy, tangy, savory. The signature smoke burger was ordinary and over cooked. I asked for medium rare and received well-done. The smoky flavor was there, but it was hard to discern the gouda or gruyere cheeses or even the applewood bacon. My duck fat fries were crispy but bland. No herbal flavors, no savory indications. Overall, a decent spot for a local happy hour gathering if you're nearby.
(3)
Priscilla A.
Doesnt look like a restaurant stop. Looks like a church... none the less the host was very friendly and the waitress was great. I order the chicken sandwich and the soup of the day * Potato Soup. Delicious!! -Fries had a great taste. Hint of smokiness to them if that even makes sense. The theme was great. It was a dim atmosphere with concentration on beer. Good hangout spot and just a place to relax a let loose.
(4)
Candace M.
Atmosphere check. Beer selection check. Food check. VEGAN food options at a pub? Done and done. I went on yelp to find a place that was near the convention center that had good food and a good vibe and ended up here. We got two seats at the bar, loved the menu and everything about this place, esp the beer selection, whiskey selection, and diversity of menu items. It's not often you can feed the vegan and the carnivore together at the pub. The bartender made a small mistake in my order but made up for it by giving me a discount- I was pretty happy with accidentally getting the vegan ragout instead of quinoa tabbouleh anyways! Avoid the hop Betty cocktail, I thought it would be cool but you would be better off with a greyhound instead.
(5)
Kristina R.
Went here before a show at the Hippodrome. You definitely want to make reservations if there is a show that night. It is one of the only nicer restaurants within walking distance of the Hippodrome. I had the smoke burger and it was fabulous. It was HUGE! There was a very good selection of draught beers and also a decent wine list. I would definitely go there for dinner if seeing a show again at the Hippodrome.
(4)
Frances L.
My first night in Baltimore was spent catching up with an old friend. Since we were staying near Mt. Vernon, we decided to walk over to Alewife, which was only a few blocks away. It was about 10p.m and the man at the front desk of our hotel had warned us that it wasn't really safe for two ladies to walk around in this area, but being stubborn gals from LA, we felt like we were tough enough for the job. And we were! While there were a few shady characters on the way to this gastropub, once we walked inside, it was bustling and lively! This beautiful building with super high ceilings was decked out in tons of dark reclaimed woods and really played off of using the space's original architecture. Much larger than I had anticipated, Alewife not only felt cozy, but it also had a good neighborhood vibe. I was impressed with their extensive tap and bottle selections. Craft beer heaven reaching from one end of the country to the other. Seeing as though we don't really see many Dogfish Head beers on tap in California, I opted for the My Antonia which was a great choice to go with my delicious Cubano sandwich. Tender pork belly, ham, and cheese toasted perfectly and served with a bed of spinach greens. A nice little late-night bite, at good prices, too. Service was friendly and overall, I enjoyed this place thoroughly. I'll definitely be back to try their smoke burger whenever I am in Baltimore next.
(4)
Sean O.
Vegan? Kosher? Gluten free? This place is good for none of those! Their burgers are AMAZING! Also, you need to get the beer sampler trays, especially if you want to loosen up while there. They don't serve any mainstream beers here so loosen up and have a hearty beer for once you wuss.
(4)
Joseph L.
Not a big fan. Just didn't live up to the expectations. The menu was very simple and very much over priced. The building was cool but too bad the food wasn't. We actually only eat half of what we order and went somewhere else to finish dinner. If you like to spend a lot money on half assed meals then this is the place for you.
I'm always a fan of Alewife's food. I've introduced many a friend to this establishment for the sole purpose of trying their premier dish, the Smoke Burger. Paired with duck fat fries, the food's hard to beat for Baltimore's city center. The cocktails are always creative and the draft list is an impressive, mammoth chalkboard scaling the wall. Now if it were only a few bucks cheaper... The place has a great ambiance and a good "dark" feel. Definitely a good investment on a historical property. Beware nights where the Hippodrome or Everyman are having a large showing. Sometimes Alewife just can't support non-reservation folks or discourages people with hour-plus long waits. Plan your evenings wisely and you won't be disappointed. I do wish Alewife would make better use of its upstairs seating during rushes. They just don't use it frequently enough to accommodate the crowds. The one thing that kills this place from being five stars in my book is the inconsistent service. Some nights it's amazing and some nights it's horrific. On great nights, the staff is upbeat, the food is cooked to perfection, and you leave with a smile on your face. On the bad nights, your food will be either undercooked (and raw) or burned, the staff inattentive, the drinks slow or just plain wrong, and the check forever-waiting in making its appearance. This seems to happen more when it's slow, which I find really puzzling.
(4)
Paul S.
Great selection of beers as some have suggested? They don't even have Guiness. Order the mussels and you'll get a bowl of french fries with a couple of lame mussels on the bottom and lots of grease. The disappointments just keep coming. The most laughable part is there was a line to get in.
(1)
Devonshire B.
Excellent and knowledgeable staff, amazing food (burger had a beautiful smokey flavour), great atmosphere, big big big area, HUGE selection of alcohol!, and decently priced. Why in the world would you NOT want to try this place out?
(4)
Joseph C.
My fiancee' took me to Alewife and I was in heaven. The beer selection is quite impressive & the bartenders were quite knowledgable and able to make suggestions.
(4)
Diana H.
They have a great beer menu and make a pretty stiff cocktail, for this alone I would have given it four stars. But unfortunately we had a lot of problems at Alewife. First the bartender kept trying to rip us off, we ordered their smokey burger since everyone raves about it and we order just the burger no fries etc. The plate comes with fries, we do not notice, we eat the burger it was cooked medium well when we asked for medium rare however we let it go because we did not have time to return it and ask for a properly cooked burger. The bill comes. A.) We were not charged happy hour prices and when I brought it up to her she is like, oh right I forgot it was happy hour (Yeah right) B.) She charges us with the fries we did not order nor eat and not only did she charge us for the fries but for the fries fried in duck fat. ... and I really believe it was intentional, so everyone double check your bills.
(1)
Sean H.
AAAAwwwwwwww yyyyeeaaahh!!! Beer, beer everywhere! And the food is boss. Atop it all the atmosphere is just tops and the service, though at times busy, is great. My dinner party and I slackjawed it up with what seemed to be a revolving three waitresses that took turns serving us and it was super cool (two of the three were cute, one was super cute). They were setting up for karaoke too just as we finished our meals. This place oozes fun, relaxed, and enjoyable and I need to make a concerted effort to go here more often. The chow: Smoke burger = delicious and well liked by many. Kobe beef hot dog = delicious but I wanted more. Cubano = a decent cubano with an interesting twist. Try it if you're a cubano fan. Truffled mac & cheese = there is a lot to be desired with this appetizer. The flavor is neutral and unappealing and in my opinion not worth the price. The chocolate cake thing = pure junk. I can't remember exactly what it was called but when I think chocolate cake I think a big piece of cake, not a small muffin sized piece of dense dark chocolate. It tasted bland too....just didn't like it. Notes: Good for groups, excellent bar, I once drank 12 lemonades here and tweeked out for about four hours before sleeping like a baby thumb in mouth.
(4)
Charity D.
Good food--the smoke burger is amazing! I love the variety of beer they have too! Always a good meal at Alewife.
(4)
Ryan S.
Been there twice, cant comment on the food other than the smoked burger is awesome. Not the end-all be-all of burgers but a tasty respectable one non-the-less. The beer selection is awesome. The name is Alewife so if they didnt have an awesome beer selection this wouldve been a 1 star review. Service was adequate but nothing really stood out. Think I remember having to flag down the waitress for a soda refill. How a restaurant handles drink refills is usually a good indicator of how attentive the wait staff is.
(4)
JK H.
This place is great except no fracking happy hour. How can you have all these great beers and no happy hour?!
(3)
Rich C.
What a Find!!! My wife and I had tickets to the O's game and there was a rain delay. Instead of being stuck in the yard, like a caged bird (no pun intened), we opted to head north from the parking garage on Eutaw. This place was the first place we came accros that looked inviting. The huge glass window on the front is very cool. I am a big beer guy so this place is heaven for beer folk. The selection is huge with a ton of belgian beers. Don't come looking for any kind of comercialized beers, including the big name imports, cause you won't find that here. You can get all the swill like that you want, at the yard, for about the same price. The food is equally impressive. My wife had the smoke burger and loved it. I had the chicken and it was quite possibly the best chiecken I have had in a long time. Not cheap, but well worth the extra $$$. The place is slightly upscale yet comfortible and the quality of the food and beer makes it a solid home run. Sorry couldn't help myself with that one. The staff and owner are really nice too!
(5)
Jennifer S.
Their selection of beer on tap is amazing. I ordered the black bean burger. It seemed like they made it fresh for me. Their duck fries are so good that even vegetarians will want to eat them.
(5)
Orin W.
Terrible experience!!! Went for a pre theater burger and made a reservation 24 hours in advance. We waited 15 minutes standing in the outside stairwell before getting seated. THEN the real annoying problems began. I ordered the Great Gatsby (some vodka drink) and when it arrived I swear it tasted like cough syrup. My wife liked it but it really wasn't for me. I kindly asked if I could switch it out for a pint of beer and the waiter said that's against their policy. Now my wife and I eat out a LOT. In New York, DC and all over the world. Never heard of this policy. Ok, my wife said, if it's a problem with the manager just have him come over. When I explained to the manager that I just didn't care for the drink he responded with "well you shouldn't order our drinks because you clearly don't like what we make." Whatever. The review is already too long but the drink sucked, the food sucked and the service sucked. There is a panera bread around the corner...go there.
(1)
Tony S.
3.5 toward a 4! Came in last Saturday for lunch, not busy. Strolled up to the bar and asked for their beer menu. The bartender pointed out what they had on tap then smirked and pointed out the HUGE chalkboard of beers they had... Dazed and in a time pinch...i just asked for something hoppy, like an IPA. Before he could say, "Stone" I said, "YES!" So as for lunch, the menu is rather abbreviated. I really wanted to try the other things people mentioned in earlier reviews, but, alas, that's only on the dinner menu. NONETHELESS, WHO NEEDS A FULL MENU WHEN YOU HAVE THE SMOKED BURGER!!! Since everyone was raving on and on about it, I figured I'd give it a stab.... When I saw the asterisk next to the item on the menu saying that it takes a while to cook, I thought, "Oh this better be worth it..." 25 mins and an appetizer later out came this burger with a freaking KNIFE in it! On looks alone, I was sold. :) THen I bit into it and OMG the meat is well seasoned and tender and juicy...god, I'm salivating and it's 8:30 in the morning...SO DELICIOUS. A FAN of this burger. Friendly crowd, attentive bartender, chill place for lunch. Good beer selection, funky decor. Can't vouch for much else.
(3)
Marc H.
Best bar in the inner harbor. You won't find better craft beer variety in this area. I'm also a scotch lover and their selection was ample. Met the owners and they were good people along with the bar staff. Food was great, it was really what brought me back for a second tasting, the smoke burger was great and the second night I had the pork chop. The second night I got to try a lot more great samplings of their vast selection. Reminded me of Three Floyd's in Indiana withought the fruity flavors.
(5)
Travis P.
We went here with a group of 8 people for lunch before and O's game. Let me start by saying that their smoke burger was one of the best burgers I have ever had! They also have a good craft beer selection. However, they don't have a light beer option and when asked about it our server was a little pretentious with her response. For some people, a light beer option is a necessity, so in my opinion, all bars and restaurants that serve beer should have at least one light beer option. Service was also a little slow, especially considering we were the first table to be seated that day, maybe they weren't ramped up yet.
(3)
christine j.
Definitely my go-to spot in downtown Baltimore. Their duck fat fries, thai wings, Smoke burger, huge beer selection keeps me coming back.
(4)
Robin K.
Originally gave this place a 1-star review due to poor staff. I thought I 'd give them another chance since the burger was so good. To my surprise, the new waitress there was more bubbly and friendly. Kudos to management making the necessary changes. My last visit was definitely a 4-star experience at minimum. Averaging the two scores, I'll leave it as a 3 for now.
(3)
Lina B.
GREAT beer selection with rotating draught menu that you can find illustrated on the chalkboard (or in the menu). They have a beer club, but it's pretty impossible to drink that many beers in the timeframe of one year. Smokeburger, although it DOES take a long time to come out of the kitchen, is definitely worth it. I also have tried the truffle mac and cheese, cuban sandwich, tomato soup with cheese croutons. All of these choices are definitely yummy. My roommate got the fish tacos once and wasn't very impressed. The duck fat fries are a staple and you should always order them. The aioli on the side is what makes the perfect combination. I also know my friends ordered the fennel frites and loved them, but I did not have room to try one at the time.
(4)
Marie T.
i liked this place! incredibly casual, although i'd choose a different entree next time as i was a bit of a newbie and didn't realize the crab was "market price". yikes, expensive just for a crab cake on my salad. but good all the same.
(3)
Norman M.
A very lively place for a good pub meal. They have an impressive list of beers available on tap. The Smoke Burger was a great choice. Gouda, thick cut bacon and duck fat fries! My wife's fish tacos were tasty as well. A little cramped but not uncomfortable. We were there during and after a baseball game so the noise level was loud but not so bad that we could not converse. They seemed a bit understaffed as well. Overall good choice.
(3)
Jarrett H.
We didn't have any food, but before dealing with a wedding and my girlfriend's family, we needed a drink. Yelp, being happy to tell us where to find a good beer selection, directed us to Alewife. Sparsely populated in the mid-afternoon, there are three sections from what I could tell: A few large tables for groups or standard sit-down eating, a few high-top tables with stools for casual meetings, and the many-tapped bar. The beer menu is written on a chalkboard, but instead of selecting a single one, Alewife offers flights: four 4oz samples selected by the bartender. We asked about the regional sampler, and after mentioning we were from Pittsburgh went without the NY and PA breweries we were used to. To me this was a nice surprise, that the flights are not profit-optimized pourings written by the manager before each shift. The bartender asked what we liked and used his best judgement to give us a well-rounded sample of regional brews. Also, he was happy to give us a sample of a different one that we had been interested in. Good place to grab a drink - This place especially had a lot of Dogfish Head(I think), and a lot of Stone - many being limited release drafts.
(4)
John T.
Very good beer bar and restaurant. I don't know if I would call this a gastropub, but it's close. There are a few reasons I wouldn't take it to the lofty connotation of gastropub. The menu is not very diverse, specials seem to be sparse, no suggested beer pairings, and style diversity on the beer menu could be a little better. Of course they specialize in IPAs and Belgium Beers, and they do not disappoint in that regard. Of course I make mention of the slim menu, but it is very good. Have not had anything that is disappointing. The ambiance is also very nice. Dimly lit with exposed Edison style bulbs, highlighting the age of the beautiful old bank. There is a table in the original front door that is now floor to ceiling glass that is a pleasure to sit in. There is also a large chalkboard displaying their current beer offerings. Kind of. Apparently they put things up there that aren't available yet, which can be a bit of tease. Service is good, even on the busiest of days. Prices are fair ad well. Some might thing the Smoke Burger is a little pricy at $15, but given the high quality ingredients I would disagree. However the advertised 11oz burger might be an inflated weight. There is also a $12 Kobe Beef Hot Dog I have yet to try. I have heard good things about it, but I just can't seem to allow myself to pay more for a hot dog than is charged at a Raven's game. Please don't be turned off by any of my criticisms. This is a great place that enjoy visiting whenever I can.
(4)
Kathy Y.
Truffle Mac N Cheese - amazing. Lick your plate good.
(4)
Nate P.
Had dinner here based on Yelp review on my first night of a fun weekend in Baltimore. Hit the spot completely. I had one of their very fun cocktails while my partner had one of the rare beers. It says on the menu that you'll get to try the rare beer before they pull you a full glass, to make sure you like it, but that was not actually the case. Luckily it was a good choice! The food was fantastic and really hit the spot after a long day of traveling. If you don't like it loud or need your server to be elegant, this might not be the spot for you. Definitely a youngish crowd that was enjoying the place, not rushing through their meals.
(4)
andrew y.
Truffle Mac and cheese was wonderful. They used a wonderful choice of cheeses that were well balanced and not overpowering. The crunchiness on the top was also quite delightful. The smoke burger lived up to it's outstanding reputation. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out they do beer flights! Good choice and great option for dinner before a show at the Hippodrome which is right across the street. I recommend you call for reservations.
(4)
Nelson C.
The drinks are very small and even more expensive. There was so little alcohol that I had to approach the bartender to ask if she had even put any in my drink at all. For $10 I expect more than a pathetic excuse for a Jack and Coke. The Gumbo tasted like the slop that they would feed inmates at Shawshank prison and you would be better off spending your money else where.
(1)
Jeffrey S.
Went for a burger and a beer before the O's home opener. A group of 8 of us sat upstairs. Everyone raved about their food and beer. Most of us had the smoke burger and it was one of the best burgers I have had. Great selection of beer. Love the idea of converting old buildings as well, so the atmosphere was great. Wish we had more time to try more beer!!
(5)
Renee C.
Overall Alewife is really good. The atmosphere is great. We went during lunch and the service was pretty slow. I got the shrimp po boy, but it is hard to say how good it actually is because it was missing the sauce. I asked repeatedly for sauce but it never came, even though we were one of two tables in the entire restaurant. My boyfriend got the smoke burger and he loved it, especially the bacon. It was nicely seasoned and the meat was tender. We shared the duck fat fries and they were good but, I don't think that they were worth the extra $1.50. Although we didn't try any of the beers, the selection was impressive and demonstrated a great knowledge of craft brewing. The artwork was fantastic and the restaurant looks really cool.
(3)
Lauren B.
A converted church giving off a hipster vibe, if you have time to wait for balcony seating it offers a great overview of the scene. Alewife has an extensive craft beer selection with knowledgeable staff, but a limited dinner menu. We ordered the Blue Catfish fish tacos which were average, with a crisp topping of fried sweet potato strings that I enjoyed. Duck fat fries are a must try. Bring your appetite if you want the smoked burger, it looked mouth watering and filling!
(3)
Miriam D.
The beer selection is exciting, the menu has tasty vegetarian options as well as meat ones, and the space is pleasant and handicap accessible. I have especially enjoyed the black bean veggie burger (they do not skimp on toppings) with fries and chipotle mayo, and several excellent IPAs. The price is very reasonable. The food is a bit more expensive than average bar food, but only by a few dollars. It is definitely worth it.
(4)
Christy F.
The location is extremely convenient if you are going to a show at the Hippodrome, as it's basically across the street. We went to Alewife to get a quick bite before a show. We got there on what I thought was the early side for dinner - 6 pm - and we were told all the tables were reserved, so we had to sit in the bar area and that was acceptable. We ordered drinks - I had the vanilla porter which was a comfortable warming brew and not too heavy -- but when it came to ordering food, we ended up leaving. Why, you ask? I ordered the short rib and they were already sold out of it! Their menu is not that extensive and while sitting at the bar, we saw most of the entrees passed out to other diners. The Cubano looked like all bread and no meat and the duck fat fries looked absolutely sodden with heavy gravy. My date ordered the Smoke Burger, but he hates cheese and when he ordered it without cheese, he was told that the cheese is actually mixed in with the ground beef, so a cheese-less burger is not possible there. Counting that as our third strike, we left and sought other options on Pratt Street. I had previously eaten here close to Halloween and had the risotto cakes. They were tasty and the asparagus was nicely prepared. My date's fish tacos looked nice, too. This is a cool, trendish-y place converted from an old bank, so you can see the old vault in the back. A nice vibe, but it's definitely more of a bar than a dining establishment. The beer list is extensive but the cocktails aren't that good. Seems like a great place to grab a drink, but move on to a real restaurant for dinner.
(3)
Melinda R.
I went to Alewife with a friend a Tuesday night. It was an opening night of a play at the Hippodrome nearby so it was PACKED! Once we got seated, we were promptly greeted by our waiter and our orders were taken. I was impressed how fast we got our food considering how crowded it was in there. I ordered the Smoke Burger which was amazing!!! It was perfectly cooked and the duck fat fries were awesome! I'd like to go back one day for happy hour or just dinner. The menu looked good with lots more on it I'd like to try.
(4)
Jeremy M.
Smoke Burger. The burger was even better than expected, the beef is great, the temprature was slightly below my medium order, but that's the preferred miss, it was delicious. The smoky bacon, awesome. The cheese, drool inducing. Really, Really, great. Top 5 burger....ever. Duck fat fries...yes. Price for all that goodness $15, i think it's UNDERpriced! Nice beer selction, cool place, neighborhood is a bit "transitional" Service was less than world class which is why I couldn't give it 5 stars, but it's legit.
(4)
Tom M.
This place has so much potential. Nearly 5 stars for me except one time when we had horrible service . They forgot us twice. I will give it another chance I guess. Burger is unbelievable. Decor is so authentic. Feels kinda like Brewers Art in Mt Vernon.
(4)
Elaine P.
Unfortunately horrible customer service, to the point where they think they are too good that it doesn't matter how they treat people, outweighs the good food. So sad because it is really convenient to where I work, however after multiple poor experiences my entire office has sworn them off.
(2)
Joe I.
Total college bar that has a MASSIVE beer selection with surprisingly limited options on tap and insanely delicious duck fat fries. I was happy to have visited the place as it is pretty cool for a one time visit, though at 37 I think I may have been the oldest person there, so that was weird. Overall cool, happy I went, duck fat fries = awesome, but I'd rather check other places in the area out before going back.
(3)
Robbie H.
Have heard about Alewife for about a year or two now and finally made reservations far enough in advance to grab dinner before a show at the Hippodrome. The dining room was noisy, and we were just on the other side of the partition adjacent to a very crowded bar area. Throughout dinner I had to strain to hear my fiance. The decor was nice, some interesting stained glass windows, and all was basically clean, strong, and a bit classic. The beer list was impressive and was the best thing about our meal, I had two kinds of beer, both were delicious and unique (and for a change my beers were more expensive than my fiance's cocktails!). Our appetizer, some uninspired mini-crab cakes, came out literally 1 minute before our entrees. I got the Salmon, and my fiance got the Delmonico. Both were decent, but lacking in distinct flavor or execution. The sides were a little better, but nothing better than any of the dozens of fantastic restaurants in Baltimore at a similar price point. We splurged on dessert, and the Orange Blossom cake was delicious. We should have splurged on burgers, as the Alewife burger we saw other people devouring looked great, and may be the only thing other than the beer list worth coming to Alewife for. We decided we'll go back in a few months to try the burger, but aside from that, nothing really had us interested in returning. It's a shame though - we're subscribers to the Hippodrome, and were hoping for a great place to go before a show. Still haven't found anyplace near the Hippodrome that gives a quality meal for the money... aside from the Panera between the Hippodrome and the hospital.
(2)
Dina B.
When I cancelled the Annabelle Lee tavern reservation, my husband was very upset, but I told him, 'trust me, you will not be disappointed' with Alewife. As I expected, it was terrific! We arrived at 7:15 for a 7:45 reservation; the place was jammed packed with the pre-theater crowd. By 8:00, the crowd thinned. The beer menu is extensive and I tried the Shafley pumpkin ale - fantastic. I had 2. We started with the garlic Caesar salad which lived up to its name...garlicky and delicious. One of the best Caesars I have had. My husband opted for the short rib, which came with onion rings, corn bread, and asparagus. He loved it. I had the famed smokehouse burger, which rivaled the Fleet Street Kitchen burger for best burger in town. But, Fleet Street took its burger off the menu, so Alewife wins. There are no desserts, so don't save room. Go somewhere else for sweets. The pastry chef left and has not been replaced. Oh well. I think they should work on this. Still, the place was great, good for vegetarians as well as carnivores. Will definitely return.
(4)
Jojo S.
Biggest let down of the century. Went t get a bite with my sister. I should have left when the guy at the door told us it would be a 15 minute wait for a table when there were empty tables. The bartender was very nice and told us to sit down. We ordered drinks and their famous burger (medium) to share. Cut it in half and had a bite only t realize it was rare (I'm talking about- warning consuming raw or undercooked meat could make you sick rare) instead of medium. The waitress said she did not know what to do so I asked for the manager. He said he would have them remake it. Fifteen minutes later they gave us the burger cut in half on an bun that was not toasted which I thought was weird. It also did not look as mouth watering as the first burger. I pulled back the bun and realized they recooked the two halves that we had each taken a bite out of. Is that sanitary? I don't think so. Asked for the manager and the check. Went elsewhere to eat.
(1)
Maria A.
Nested in a rather sketchy part of town, just a few blocks from Lexington Market and a few blocks from the Orioles/ Ravens stadiums. Therefore on game day expect a lot of traffic and no parking. This old bank has been remodeled into a mohogany panelled pub, giving it a luscious old English feel. First off, I went in there with my partner who is wheat intollerant, the waitress was extremely attentive to her needs and pretty much attentive overall, and I should mention that the place was packed since it was a Ravens game night. As a beer aficionado, I was extremely happy to see their extensive beer list. In fact, I must say I was so pleasently surprised that certain rare beers were available. As far as higher end beers go this place so far carries the greatest selection I have seen in Baltimore, including the locally famous Fells Point landmark Max's (which I also love).The house burger is to die for, absolutelty deliciously juicy and cooked to perfection. I must add that this burger is compiled from high quality cuts not assorted animal parts. The vegetarian black bean patty, for my less flesh loving partner was also delicious. On the other hand, the extremely thin cut fries (fried in duck fat), I can do without. Because they are cut too thin they tend to over absorb the fat they are fried in making them either limp or burnt. To m dissapointment, they do not carry Grey Poupon, leaving me stuck with the neon yellow substance Americans call "mustard". On the other hand the waitress was quick to offer a lovely aioli dipping sauce, which can also be used on your burger. Again skip the fries. Reservations are available during the week but not on the weekends. This is definitively the place to get a sublime burger and a good beer, in fact this is where you will find me when I get that craving again.
(4)
Alex G.
Perhaps it was simply a respite from the truly bizarre business trip I was enduring, but eating and drinking at Alewife was one of the most enjoyable experiences I'd had at a pub in a long long time. First, the food: the smoke burger was delicious, and what I've come to realize is a fast-dying art, cooked to perfection (yes, medium-rare means bright pink throughout). My only suggestion would be a slightly more durable bun to handle what is a very serious piece of meat. The duck-fat cooked fries, while no comparison to the standard-bearer (Duckfat in Portland, ME), were also quite good. The beer selection was unrivaled. I finally got to taste a pumpkin ale that didn't taste like liquid pumpkin pie (thanks, Dogfish Head). And the bartendress' t-shirt pretty much summed it up: "I drink real beer because I'm awesome." Well said. Finally, the atmosphere. It has everything you'd expect from a good local bar, including several TVs (which were neither too loud nor too quiet), a lively but not unruly crowd, and stained oak throughout. The most endearing part was when two patrons mounted the bar to perform a song in celebration of having drank 150 different beers at the establishment. They were presented with engraved mugs in honor of their accomplishment, as well as a hearty congratulations from everyone in attendance. I'm only here in Baltimore for a week. I wonder how many times I can come back in that time span?
(5)
Beth S.
This place makes me look like a badass every time I bring someone new. It's beautiful--all wooden and classy with ridiculously tall ceilings and the BEER! Oh, the beer. So many options--which rotate frequently--and the servers can speak intelligently on the special characteristics of each beer on the extensive menu. I'm vegan but consistently looking for places that don't make my dietary choices a pain in the ass for my buddies. Alewife has what is apparently a killing burger, and I dig the asparagus side dish as well as the Alewife salad (without cheese). *Vegan side note--if you get nervous about drinks, check out barnivore.com to see if the drinks you like are animal-friendly.* This is an excellent first date place if your date is into beer--lots of things to try and discuss. I've also brought large and small groups of friends here--the atmosphere is accommodating to both. It's usually more of a 30s crowd than a 20s crowd, which is a nice change from Max's in Fells. I love their beer selection too, but the din and fratty atmosphere kind of ruin it for me. Alewife is a little off the beaten path (down by the Hippodrome) but it seems to be developing a following of loyal customers. Get to Alewife. You'll dig it.
(5)
Jenice G.
They pour some good local brews, and the smoke burger was super tasty. Be sure to check this place out!
(4)
Tony S.
They nailed the three B's. Beer = cold, Burger = awesome, Bartendress = cute. What else do you want? To put a little more detail, they have an excellent beer selection. Recommend the La Chouffe strong ale. The smoke burger was really good. I like that they serve it one way, you tell them how you want it cooked and move on with your day. This isn't burger king where you give a million details about how you want mushrooms and avocado, etc.. Alewife cooks it their way and you'll like it if your a REAL American. If you don't like it, then you're obviously a commie.
(5)
Hung T.
Can someone please tell me why this place is called Alewife? What is an alewife? 0_0 Anyways....this spot is your usual bar hangout for working professionals and grad students. Good for a break after studying. Just go in, grab a table, order a couple beers. Their beer list is MASSIVE. Over 100+ Duck fat fries (seems like every gastro pub/high end bar has em these days) are alright. I dont see what the big deal is. Their signature burger is also just alright. Your first three bites will seem like its the best thing ever. But then you get tired of it real fast. And last time it was a little burnt so it didn't taste that good when i got to those parts. However it was pretty damn juicy. $15 for burger + duck fat fries. A little on the steep side. If you're not careful, the bill can add up reall quick. Overall, a higher end bar with huge beer and wine list, OK food, and good service/ambience.
(3)
Pam C.
Great GastroPub. Excellent staff. Awesome Beer selection. Only had appetizers tonight, the crab deviled eggs, very good. Thai peanut sauce wings, good, would have liked more of the peanut sauce. Other patrons were going crazy over their Smoke Burger...with the duck fat fries....will be getting that next time!
(5)
Travis D.
Alewife is a unique experience in a city that, lately, has been desperately running away from unique experiences. The environment is modern beerhall-meets-the set of Cheers and it works well. Considering the prices (they're not cheap), the laid-back atmosphere definitely puts one at ease as they await their meal. The beer list is extensive and eclectic without being pretentious. There are some doozies on the bottles list ($25 for a beer from Scotland? ehhh maybe not) but the draft list is a bit more down-to-earth. The menu is meat-centric and awesome. Our party started with the meat & cheese platter. Served on a cutting board, the evening's choices were smoked salmon, chorizo, gruyere, bleu cheese with bread- and it was all fantastic. For the entree I had the smoke burger, which is easily the best burger in Baltimore. Cheesy, smoky, and 125% satisfying. The prices may scream "snobby" but Alewife turned out to be anything but, and I can't wait to save up some sheckles and go back.
(5)
Kurt B.
An "A+" bar. It's in an old (like 1800s old) firehouse or something, and there's beautiful high ceilings, stained glass, and exposed brick. It's a terrific building. The smokeburger with herbed duckfat fries was gourmet quality everything, and the side of aioli was divinely spicy and smoky. They have a huge changing draft selection that's a mix of well-loved and obscure craft beers. Clientele are a mix of Hopkins students, yuppies, and tourists. This area doesn't really have 'locals'. That said, for great food and a great beer I can't think of a better place in Baltimore.
(5)
Jeff K.
Too hip for happy hour
(3)
Spencer H.
Been wanting to check out Alewife for a long time, since it's a pretty popular spot. Stopped in last night before seeing a show at the Hippodrome (right across the street). It was super crowded - likely that every other theater patron had the same idea - but the beer list did not disappoint. The first beer I ordered had just kicked, so the bartender recommended a very tasty substitute, no doubt a benefit of having such an extensive selection. After the show we decided to stop back in for a snack and nightcap. Had a bourbon cider which really hit the spot. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked tasty, but menu options were extremely limited for me, a vegan, and my vegetarian companion. I would have given it 5 stars for location, atmosphere, and tasty beverages, but I had to knock off a star for the lack of veg-friendly options. If you're into burgers though, you'll probably love this place!
(4)
Sidney S.
The only thing going for this place is their beer selection. Other than that, food is just ok and service is less than exemplary. The six of us went in for dinner and beers on a Sunday night. The place was mostly empty (about 25% full). I got the smoke burger, which was edible, although the bacon on it was too chewy and clearly of a lower quality. More importantly, service was BAD. Once the waitress learned there were six of us (one of our friends joined later on), she altogether stopped caring. We literally had to track her down 4-5 times to fill up our water glass etc. In the end, she added a 20% to the check, of course. So not a great experience for the price.
(1)
Lola W.
Awesome beer selection and the best black bean burger ever. While the fries are awesome, try substituting the side salad instead for a healthier option. It is not your average boring salad. I wish their happy hour went to 7 instead of 630 though.
(5)
Jessica S.
We just came here for drinks for a few nights in a row while we were in town, and the beers certainly didn't disappoint. All of the beers on tap have awesome names which really entice you to try them. I also like how the %alc and price are listed as well. Lightweights beware: most of these beers are heavy on the alcohol, none of this weak Coors Light nonsense. We didn't have food here, but we did participate in the pub/trivia quiz... which was laughingly easy compared to ones we're used to :)
(5)
Sina E.
We decided to go here with some friends who came back for the Thanksgiving holidays and Alewife was an excellent choice. Walking in, the atmosphere was nice, quiet at first, and eventually when the music came on, it wasn't too loud where you couldn't hold a conversation. Up front there is a bar, tables around, and upstairs for more intimate setting. Menu doesn't have too many selections, but it's not such a bad thing. So often restaurants clutter their menu with too many choices, but Alewife has kept it to some nice few selections, giving something for everyone. I got the Cubano for my entree. It was packed with flavor and a nice portion size. Pork loin and virginia ham with mustard relish went well together. The fries on the side was also a hit. Of course, if you come here, you have the choice of variety of beers, and this is really where the restaurant shines. For the beer Connoisseurs, it's great. All the beer selections are written on a big chalk board. Some selections are usually there all year, but others change and seasonal. Overall, I really enjoyed the food and the drinks here. Service was great. Staff was more than happy to help with beer selections, and attentive to everything else we asked for. The combination of all these factors warrants a five stars experience.
(5)
Jim D.
Great beer selection and a great place to hang out. Really beautiful spot for a bar. Mellow vibe, usually whatever sporting event is happening on TV, good music selection. Waitstaff is friendly and know their beer. The bean burger is surprisingly good, and the duck fat fries are killer. I am sure they liposuction the ducks, so the combo makes both the animals and the vegetarians happy.
(5)
Laura Lee E.
Possibly the best burger I have ever put in my mouth. First visit was to use a Groupon and check the place out. Second visit was because the first was so nice. Oh, and they have enough beer for you to BATHE in it on tap. Cool old bank that has been several things in its history, but makes for a fun and interesting tavern. I like that there are TVs to watch various sporting events, but that there is music playing at a level you can talk with your dinner partners over, rather than TV chatter. Note that you may ask for small samples before choosing from the extensive beer list so you know you love it before you buy it. Service both times was lovely, once at a table, once at the bar. And entertaining. When there on Thursday, the day it was 103 degrees as I walked in, literally, the heavens opened with a vengeance about an hour later.As the bartender opened the inside shutters to reveal the downpour (you couldn't see the Hippodrome across the street!), he turned to the bar and said "Anyone bring an ark? No one panic...just keep drinking beer." The Smoke Burger - An 11oz House Ground Ribeye, Brisket, Skirt and Filet of Beef Burger, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere Cheese, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun, Duck Fat Fries. Served with a full sized steak knife sticking out of the center of the bun, is impressive and delicious. The first time it was prepared absolutely perfectly. The second it was slightly more medium, than medium rare, but that didn't keep me from savoring every bite. The fries are hand cut and crispy-delicious. This may be a slightly pricier adventure that your average 'beer hall' but the food, the 40 beers on tap and the service are well above average.
(4)
Kelly M.
The BF finally bought a Groupon and of course it was to a beer house. Bless his hop-filled little heart! The location is right across from the Hippodrome so I imagine parking can be hard to find and I'm sure it's pretty packed when shows are on but we arrived relatively early on a Friday night and had no problem getting a table. The beer menu is (not surprisingly) very large and comprehensive with over 40 beers on tap and pages of unique bottled beers. The prices for the draught beers were not bad and the selection was good although the BF and I had already tried several. But we both found selections we hadn't tried that were very satisfying and well recommended by our server. I was also please to see that although their wine menu is small it was well chosen and there were some good options there although I thought the price for a glass was a bit high. We ordered the mussels for an appetizer. They were solid although I would have liked a bit more bread to soak up the broth. BF ordered the risotto cakes which he really enjoyed. I thought they were fair. I ordered the Cubano sandwich and the duck fat fries. I enjoyed my sandwich and thought the fries were good too however not as good as the Brewer's Art fries. All in all it was a good meal and I liked the atmosphere - it would be a fun place to go to with a group or if I was going to the theater, otherwise it's unfortunately a place I likely won't go often as the location isn't convenient for where we live in the city and without another Groupon in hand I might prefer to spend my $60 bucks somewhere else.
(3)
Tim H.
Went last night with my wife and another couple before West Side Story at the Hippodrome. My wife made reservations last week and she received a very friendly call today reminding her of our reservation. We got there on time, but our friends were late and we couldn't be seated until our entire party was present. Seemed reasonable to me, although I was concerned because the restaurant was fairly crowded. But as soon as our friends appeared, we were wisked to our table. Some of less-than-favorable reviews I have read about the Alewife have to do with the service. This just goes to prove that the majority of one's experience stems from your interaction with the server. In this area, we lucked out. Susannah (who was sporting the sexy-librarian look yet never committed to the pull-out-the-hairpin-and-shake-out-the-hair-in-Âslow-motion thing) was spot-on. Appeared exactly when we needed her, didn't hover, was completely frank about what was good and what would be less than stellar, And we failed to trip her up when we quizzed her on the ridiculously huge beer selection...and we tried. Our food came exactly when it should have and we had plenty of time to get to the show. The food is interesting. Overall, the menu is fairly small, maybe a tad restrictive, but had enough of a selection to appeal to most any taste. We started with the meat and cheese platter. Chorizo, smoked salmon, Gruyere cheese, herbed goat cheese, tiny pickles, and whole grain mustard made for a great selection, but it was barely large enough for two, let alone four, people. And at $16, it was not a value. Between the four of us, we had the BBQ shrimp and grits, the Cubano, and Airliner chicken. Overall, very good. Grits were cheesy and creamy and the shrimp was tender and cooked just right. They were a bit over-sauced though. Could have been a little more delicate with the flavors and been more intriguing. But the rest of my party were very pleased with their entrees, although the portions were fairly small. Especially for the price. Whether or not we caught them on a good night, we were very pleased with the service and satisfied with the food. It was just a tad pricer than it should have been, especially when considering that the portions were small. But, overall, a good place to go before the show.
(3)
Brian A.
Great food, Great beer, Great staff and Great Atmosphere. The beer here is all top notch and the staff can give you a great education on each beverage and can help you find a beer that best suits you. The food is absolutely delicious and rivals one of my Favorite gastro-pubs in Baltimore, Hamilton Tavern. This a a beautiful space and enormous. Take the time to walk around and explore each floor while your venture through the extensive beer list. Be advised this is a little pricey for a gastro-pub but still reasonable. Also there are some TVs but still not a great place to watch a game.
(4)
Jessica K.
I ordered food for to-go from here when I stayed at a hotel around the corner for a work meeting. The bartender was friendly and attentive and on the random Monday night I was there, there was trivia which kept me occupied while I waited for the salad I ordered. (And good thing too because my salad took a while.) They have a pretty substantial list of draft beers and a lot of amazing whiskey just waiting to be drank. I, however, sipped on water while I waited for my Alewife salad topped with a crab cake. After I got it, I speed-walked back to my hotel room to find that plastic silverware didn't accompany the salad. I didn't fret, got some from the front desk of my hotel and feasted. The salad was very fresh and the balsamic vinegarette was great. Though the star of this salad was the crab cake (which when added made the salad $24). It had minimal seasoning and a ton of crab. I saved it for after i ate all the greens. From what I could tell, this is one of the only cool places that is opened after typical work hours downtown. It was huge and pretty busy for a Monday night. Overall, though things weren't perfect, I'd totally go back and chill, play trivia and drink all their beer and whiskey. The salad was good so i'd try something else. It might have been a bit pricey but I am going to expense my dinner and well, Baltimore is a city after all. Worth your while!
(4)
Scott P.
Good healthy food and if you want a burger, they got that covered too. Arugula salad, black bean burger, Alewife salad with grilled yardbird all very tasty. Fries were fresh also.Loved the music selection. Great service too. I'm a music producer and vintage Yo La Tengo, New Pornographers, Decemberists etc just wonderful.
(4)
Brent F.
Not good in any way. Upon arrival we were informed of the 8 beers that they ran out of and one of the dinner specials. Ordered the Brussel sprouts which were limp and not impressive, sitting in a pool of balsamic. I originally wanted to order the burger, but after seeing how huge it was, decided to go with the Airline Chicken which was supposedly the "chef's choice." The dish was $20 so I expect it to be pretty nice size and tasty. Unfortunately it was one very small chicken breast sitting in a bowl of broth with a bit of sausage (a small bit) and a few other veggies. The flavor was overly salty and unimpressive. I felt like I was at a Ruby Tuesdays but paying twice as much. My wife had the fish tacos which were just ok, not great. Were interested in dessert but they only had plain cheesecake (waitress said they aren't a dessert place and suggested Cheesecake Factory at the harbor). Don't waste your time here!
(1)
Russell P.
We heard about the Alwwife from the owner at the Air B&B at which we stayed -- very glad she recommended it! The atmosphere is all wood panelling and brass rails -- as a former bank should be! -- the main room was a bit noisy but there were quieter nooks available, and we took one, right under the vast chalkboard of beer offerings. We tried a few local ones we hadn't heard of before and were not disappointed! The food was great -- the "Smoke Burger" fabulous as advertised, with so much flavor, even just in a piece of the bun (one of our party, being off gluten, shared 'round his with the rest of us), that you just couldn't resist. The crab cakes were excellent if a tad pricey (well, "Market Price," what can you say?); we also tried some spicy oysters and shrimp with gumbo, both delicious. With the atmosphere, food, and drink all very congenial, our party of five went home very satisfied. I'm sure we'll go here again!
(4)
Beth G.
Came here with some friends. I had beers which were good. My partner ordered the crab devilled eggs. That morning he was vomiting and had terrible diarrhea. This continued throughout the day. He was not getting better and ended up going to the hospital for IV fluids. My partner does not drink and had no alcohol. I am not sure if the eggs had gone bad or what but here is a warning to never order devilled eggs from a bar!
(2)
Zeph D.
The smoke burger is a work of art for your tongue and mouth. The smell, sight and physical touch alone can't describe what takes place when you bite into it. IT IS AMAZING. Yeah it's a burger... but it should be in another class or category really. Like Steak Scultpure or something. The fries are dope too. I really got a crush on this burger. I won't say it's the best burger EVER but I will say it's the best burger I ever had. There's ground beef stuck between two pieces of bread then there's THIS masterpiece. Eating it is like watching an orchestra play live or seeing Circue du Soliell in person (if you're into that type of stuff.)
(5)
Nay P.
Bottom line up front. Come here for the smoke burger and beer or you will most likely be disappointed. NOT for anything else one the menu, AND NOT for the service! Choose this establishment for a going away party for two of my co-workers. Wanted to order ahead since we only have a limited time for lunch. I brought over the orders and specifically told Matt we needed everything ready by 11:30 AM - 11:40 AM. We get there and have pre-made name tags for our food which was nice but the food did not come out until 11:50 AM - 12:00 PM and later. Everything was brought out sporadically. Everyone who got the burger including myself liked it however others who ordered anything else were not happy. Kind of put a damper on the occasion. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
(3)
Ashley M.
Great food!! This place has a great selection of beers! The food was really really good! Great service and the girls were friendly. I would recommend the shrimp and grits(that's what I had) it was perfect proportions for someone that didn't want to over eat, and it was just enough to last me through the night. Along with a few beers ;-)
(4)
Kim K.
As cool as it gets in Baltimore. I am not one to hit pubs, but this place is special. Loved the music they were playing: Echo & the Bunnymen, Jesus & Mary Chain, New Order, etc. ok, I am showing my age here, but the crowd was very diverse. The service was fantastic and the architecture is very cool- be sure to walk up to the women's rest room! I had the spicy pumpkin soup and their famous burger. Both were delicious. Highly recommend for service, atmosphere & food.
(5)
Christine K.
I've only been for drinks and I don't think it's anything special. Beer selection is decent for the area and the cocktail list is short but diverse. I would not recommend asking for any cocktails that require more than three very basic ingredients. I ordered a drink off the menu and the bartender swapped out rye for bourbon without asking me or letting me know. I noticed and mentioned that it would have been nice to know before making my drink, and all I got was shrug. If you keep your expectations low because you came here because it's convenient, then you'll be happy.
(2)
Sarcofago N.
Modern, fake, Tourist trap, bad frat vibe, in a more-dangerous-looking type area than normal dangerous-looking areas in Baltimore. Has a fake upscale feel with a lot of beer selections (which are constantly tapped out and not good selections in the first place: IPAs. Seeming newbie barkeeps. Cocktails and food sounded good on paper but tasted low rent. This place might impress grandparents who've never been to a big city and were desperate enough to get out of their car in a ghetto Go to Hampden if you want to be around real scensters and foodies. AVOID
(2)
Teri H.
Went here for lunch with a coworker and we split the alewife salad and the smoke burger. Alewife Salad: Baby Greens, Grilled & Chilled Asparagus, St. Pete's Blue, Candied Cashews, Spiced Granny Smith Apples, Balsamic. I felt all these ingredients were pretty sparse and I did not see any cashews but otherwise the salad has a good flavor just wish there were more ingredients. Smoke Burger: 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun, Duck Fat Fries. Burger was cooked perfectly and delicious just wish the bacon was cooked more. It was pretty limp. This place is close to the Hippodrome and is def worth a visit as they offer craft beers as well.
(3)
Pat M.
Alewife remains a very strong place to grab a quality beer. However, the last two times I've visited the food has been merely so-so, and last night the service was disappointing. What have they done to the shrimp and grits?! Once upon a time it was a delectable bowl of creamy goodness, with large shrimp arranged around the edges. Now it's three stacks of fried grits patties, with smaller shrimp and a sauce atop each. Not impressed. Meanwhile, I've had their semi-legendary smokeburger my last two visits, and it's just been good but not great. As for last night's service, there appeared to be just one waitress working the tables, and she really didn't seem to be into it. We ordered food, yet no salt and pepper was brought to the table. And we had numerous extended waits at various points in the meal. I'll be back for sure, but likely just for the craft beer selection.
(3)
Jennifer E.
Baltimore is my home away from home for four days of every year when I visit for Maryland Deathfest. In the past few years (out of five, so far) that I've gone, I've hit up Alewife for either food or drinks. They get really crowded around the weekend that I go since it appears that a lot of graduations fall around Memorial Day weekend. Even when they are busy I tend to get pretty decent service. The food is what I would describe as upscale bar food. I've tried their burger, steak and fish tacos with local catfish so far. Everything always tastes delicious and fresh. I would also recommend getting the duck fat fries. Even if your entree doesn't come with them, you should definitely get a basket to split with the table. So good. Their beer selection is superb and at times they even offer flights (not always though). I can always count on getting a fantastic local brew to try out. I would certainly say that when I'm in Baltimore I will continue to go back as I haven't tried anything I haven't liked. Food is good and the prices are crazy considering the quality. I also appreciate that our server complimented us metal heads for being actually nicer and better customers then most of the tourists she encounters. Can't judge a book by it's cover, ya know?
(4)
Jackie D.
My daughter and I were here after a show at the Hippodrome late one Friday night in December. Naturally, it was packed. We had drinks at the busy bar while we waited for a table. Our table was comfortably spaced and the servers were attentive. We shared the shrimp and grits for an appetizer. Thought they were fine. Having read other reviews, I had to try the Smoke Burger (and I rarely order burgers). I was not disappointed. It was delicious and huge! Plenty leftover for the next day. My daughter had the wild boar sliders. She liked them (so did her brother when he at the leftovers the next day.) I thought they were okay, but they had more of a meatball flavor to me. I wouldn't hesitate to return next time I see a show at the Hippodrome.
(4)
Angela M.
I was tasked with finding a dinner spot near the convention center that would be tasty but casual enough to allow baby and stroller in tow. After reading the other reviews that mentioned the former bank building, I vaguely recalled coming here the last time that I was in town for a convention (2008), but only for drinks and appetizers, and vaguely remembered a positive experience, so decided to try it. We arrived around 6 on a Wednesday, and while the front room had a decent crowd, we were the first in the back. We struggled a little with the beer list, since our group don't tend toward the craft beer scene, and they were changing out several kegs since it was Craft Beer Week. The server was patient with us, bringing several samples to make sure we got the right pint. I had the Oysters Chesapeake and the Alewife salad, while the others ordered the peach quesadilla with chicken and the catfish tacos. The Oysters were just ok. The tepid temperature did little for the taste and nothing for the texture. The sauce made the breading of the fried oyster slightly soggy. The greens were wilted. The salad was crisp and fresh. The tacos were the hit of the night. Decent experience, and I would return, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend.
(3)
Josh A.
I went to Alewife on Valentine's Day for a romantic dinner with my date, and while dinner was fine, and the space beautiful, the multiple TVs and very loud 90's grunge music really soured the tone. Not sure why they thought nonstop Nirvana and Bush was the was to go on a night when there were many couples there for dates, and the music was so loud you could barely talk to your table partner. Dinner itself was good for the most part. We started with the special vanilla-infused lobster appetizer, which was a little sweet for my taste (it reminded me of cake batter with lobster in it), but not terrible. My date had the fish tacos, which neither of us particularly loved (there was a slightly off taste about them that neither of us could identify), and I had the crab cakes with fried green tomato and creamed corn, which was excellent. We finished with the very tasty chocolate mousse cake. Over all, it was a little hit or miss, but the service was excellent. Our waitress, though very busy, was attentive and thoughtful with her recommendations. Alewife is great if you want to grab an interesting beer with some buddies (their beer list is truly phenomenal), but not great for a romantic date...or if you want to have a conversation. This strikes me as a little off since their decor and menu seem to want to be a fine dining restaurant, but the sound level and ambiance directly counteract that.
(3)
Michele L.
This place is beautiful but with beers averaging $7 and $8 a pint (with many at $10-11), I can't justify spending money in a place with such a rude staff. The hostess in particular was nasty to us, and made us feel like a nuisance. It's convenience to the Hippodrome makes it hard to pass up before a show, but I'll be hard pressed to go back.
(2)
Tunaidi A.
Everyone raves about Alewife's Smoke Burger. While the Smoke Burger is good, juicy, tender, etc., I'm not convinced that it's a burger worth $15. I've had better burgers before that really pack a bang for less. That being said, service is friendly and attentive and the calamari is a decent play. Parking is scarce, but not impossible.
(3)
C G.
Went before going to see a show at the Hippodrome with my sister around 5:45- Told the server we would be there for a while. When it was time to order, we asked for Brussels sprouts as an appetizer, and then the smokehouse burgers as a meal. We also asked for an arugula salad with chicken to be brought out later around 7 when our third party arrived. At 6:20ish, the Brussels sprouts, the burgers, and the salad without chicken came out at the same time. What is the point of asking for an appetizer and asking for a meal to come out later if the server isn't going to follow directions? I've worked as a server before. I know it's simply a matter of entering what you want in the system (appetizer) then entering the other meals to be cooked about 5 minutes later (some POS systems even allow you to enter it with the appetizer and put a hold on it so it wouldn't be sent to the kitchen right away) Our server clearly didn't care. The Brussels sprouts were terrible. We sent them back along with the salad. The server pretended that she didn't know we wanted chicken on it and we didn't want the salad out right away. She then presumed to ignore us for the rest of the meal. I had to get up and go to the bar to get napkins and I had to get up to ask her for water, which she gave me attitude and didn't even bother bringing us water (continued talking to other servers and going to other tables) On top of the absolutely terrible service, the prices were a little ridiculous (3 bucks for an iced tea ?) and the burger wasn't special at all. The couple next to us were complaining about the service as well. Matter of fact, the tables surrounding us looked unhappy with empty drinks. I won't be back.
(1)
Virginia B.
Lots of poor reviews but my experience was pretty good! Huge beer selection and best black bean burger I've ever had! My only complaint would be service was slow for the place being empty and the menu was too small. And i like a small menu.
(4)
M K.
I work near here, so have come here for multiple post-work dinner/happy hour. I've had their burgers on several occasion, and it's pretty tasty. It's a simple burger with nothing too crazy inside of it. The bun is nicely toasted, meat is quite juicy and tasty. The prices can be a little steep though. Overall, a great place for a burger.
(3)
Deborah N.
Bartender gave great service. She noticed I wasn't eating my burger, which was undercooked and cold. She had the kitchen make me a new one. Not stick the old one in the microwave, but make a whole new one. Plus this place was recommended bu my dad, who is even fussier than me! Did not drink any alcohol but others all liked their drinks!
(4)
Mac O.
Alewife exudes a really lovely gastropub-y vibe here, with its two-story, mirror-backed bar and large, arched windows. Husband and I found an exceptional draught beer selection on our visit, including St. Bernardus Abt 12, Dogfish Saison du Buff, Houblon Chouffe, Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, and Allagash Tripel. I couldn't resist sampling the Imperial Scoville from local Laurel brewery Jailbreak, a double IPA brewed with "hot ass peppers." I loved how the subtle heat complemented the bitter hops. To wash down the beers, husband and I each ordered the Alewife Salad: baby greens, grilled asparagus, St. Pete's blue (I think our salads actually had goat cheese instead), candied cashews, spiced Granny Smith apples, and balsamic dressing. We also both added a crab cake which, while steep at a $15 charge, was truly impressive. The lumps of crab were huge, the filler minimal, and the sear to the outside gave the cakes a nice golden crust. The salad plus the crab cake make a perfectly filling light lunch. Our bartender was excellent as well. She was happy to offer us little tastes of any beers we were unsure about, and she made intelligent recommendations based on our preferences and the brews we'd already ordered. We were quite pleased to find a watering hole with such a diverse and impressive draught selection this close to Camden Yards (a short, half-mile walk straight down Eutaw Street). Alewife makes for a refreshing change from the mob-scene of sports bars right next to the Park and now occupies a slot on our list of Balmer favorites.
(4)
Deb W.
My friend says this place is a dive....I disagree. The place has a great ambiance, high ceilings and awesome windows. Those duck fat fries were pretty good. The black bean burger wasn't great. It lacked flavor and fell apart easily. My friend had the Smoke Burger and regular fries. I think his selection was much better. The fries were relish and the burger bite that I had hit the spot (we were a bit hung over). We sat at the bar and there were only 2 other tables. I was impressed with the beer selection, and gather that on weekend nights it becomes a fun bar. There is a balcony upstairs, which would be a great place to be on a Saturday night!
(4)
Will D.
The Wild Boar Sliders were the most disgusting and vomit inducing dinner I have ever forcibly consumed. After hours of dry heaving and hydrating myself with Gatorade I mustered the strength to write this review. Only in comparison to a slab of meat burnt to cinder perfection and then lathered with an oceans amount of salt can one find a similar "meal". Not only did they rob my taste buds but they gave me only three golf sized sliders covered in carrots with a side of a few fries for my arm and a leg payment of $15. I can only recommend this meal to masochists and those who desire look a likes of coal chunks to put in their children's stockings this coming Christmas. - Cameron Dorr
(1)
Sonya L.
We went to Alewife for dinner on Saturday night with a big group to celebrate our friends moving away. We arrived early for our reservation and the hostess didn't greet us but said "come back at 8". As we approached the bar we were treated like we were in the way by a particular waitress when we were just trying to walk through. We went to the bar and waited and while we waited the bartender was friendly and helpful with questions. Once we sat at our table the waiter listed everything that the restaurant was out of (at 8pm on a Saturday). The problem with this was we ordered other stuff off of the food/drink menu he had to keep coming back to tell us they were out of it. The drink menu is extensive and looked great so we were having trouble ordering. As we ordered and asked questions about drinks he really couldn't give us any information on any of the drinks. I ordered a burger and I ordered it medium. It came out raw. I like meat more on the rare side so I went with it but as I got to the middle I had to take out the entire middle of the burger. The burger also completely lacked flavor. Their duck fat fries did have good flavor but came out cold. We also split the artichokes and they were decent. They tasted like fried dough. The majority of the table said their food was "okay". My husband did get one of their beers and it was delicious. We all also really liked the cocktails on their menu. After dinner we went to the bar to hang out with our friends for a few more minutes because it was a going away get together and we didn't know when we'd see each other again. As we stood at the full bar a rude waitress made it known several times that we were in her way by yelling in our ears, "COMING THROUGH". I found this so annoying and it really was making it hard for me to enjoy spending time with my friends. We had no where else to go and were trying our very best to stay out of her way. We weren't drunk or being obnoxious. She clearly just doesn't enjoy her job and felt the need to take it out on customers. This was also the same waitress that made us feel like we were in her way when we were walking through to the bar area initially. I gave this place 2 stars because their service is unwelcoming and unknowledgeable, food is bland and drinks/beer are the only thing this place has going for it. We will not be returning.
(2)
Kristin D.
Have been here multiple times before the theater. Make reservations. Food is consistently good. From fish tacos to their salad to what I think is best on menu their burger with duck fat fries although cook time on burger can be a little slow. Good service everyone e is pkeasant. And always fun to be in an old converted bank. Not fancy but a fun casual place no pretentious attitude here.
(4)
Rebekah T.
When I first heard the name Alewife, I was intrigued by the old bank turned into a gastro pub/ alehouse . It didn't take much to convince my guy to stop in for lunch. We love places like this. I was instantly impressed by the old bank that still holds so much of the character. The old front doors turned into a window booth caught my eye. We sat at the bar, which was the former front bank counter. The bartender was very nice. He knew a lot about the beer and cocktails. We had a great conversation the entire time, which made it fun. My guy went with a sampler which was made up of beers he had not yet tried before. On his recommendation, I tried the Berre Leimonad - cucumber & basil infused death's door gin, freshly squeezed lemon & orange juice, crushed berry blend, simple syrup, rocks. It was really great! I want to make my own infused gin now. We already knew what we wanted, the Smoke Burger with the Duck Fat Fries! The 11oz House Ground Ribeye, Brisket, Skirt & Filet of Beef Burger, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere Cheese, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun IS AMAZING. It is by far the BEST BURGER I've had and I have been around..... The Smoke Burger with the Duck Fat Fries were so very decadent. We split the plate and were both very pleased with the burger.The Duck Fat fries are the icing on the cake, so flavorful and nothing like I've tried before. We were in burger heaven, After another beer or two, we had to pull ourselves away from Alewife. It's one of my favorite places and lunches in Baltimore. I don't think that I'll forget that burger easily, as it's now set the bar for burgers in my book.
(5)
Lisa K.
Went to Alewife for dinner when I was in Baltimore a few weeks back. Our party of 3 were seated after a couple minutes of confusion waiting at the empty podium with a sign that wasn't sure if it wanted to say 'seat yourself' or 'please wait to be seated'. The waitress informed us of the specials they had that day along with a list of local beers that would be accompanied with a free beer glass, however, they ran out of glasses....lame. We ordered the asparagus appetizer and there was really nothing about it that stood out taste wise, it could have easily accompanied my entree. I ordered the short rib dinner and it was also just an average dish. The beer BBQ sauce was decent, the cornbread was a bit dry and the portions were a tad small for $26 a plate. One thing that irked me was that the short rib dish was my 3rd choice since some of the options on the menu they ran out of or were"no longer on the menu"....they just hadn't updated it. I enjoyed the pub atmosphere of Alewife but wish I could have tried the dishes that had appealed to me initially.
(3)
Daphne H.
Good local bar to get a drink after a show at the hippodrome. They have a good beer list. The duck fat fries are a worthwhile treat to go with a glass of wine or cold beer.
(3)
Rebecca G.
Alewife has a lot of reviews online, and many are very positive. It's been recommended to us many times, and we've heard that their burger is one of the best around, so decided to finally try it. No lie, the pictures for this review have been sitting in a folder labeled "downtown bad burger" for a little over a year, out of procrastination and avoidance of writing a bad review. We hate writing bad reviews, we really do. We'd rather have awesome meals all the time and have to complain about making hard choices between great restaurants. Unfortunately, sometimes we have a meal that isn't great. I sat on this one for a while, in case we went back to give them another chance, or someone talked me out of disliking this food. But that didn't happen, so here we go. His plate: Smoke burger - An 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Duck Fat Fries Her plate: Grilled Skirt Steak - 7oz Snake River Farms Kobe Skirt Steak (ordered rare), Stone Smoked Porter Demi Glace, Smoked Sweet Potato Mash, Grilled Asparagus The smoke burger has a note that it takes a little longer to prepare than other items. Well, that's fine with us - we have no problem waiting. So long as the other entrees don't suffer in quality. Timing doesn't bother us (as much as it definitely bothers some diners) - either bring both at once, having fired the steak much later than the burger; or bring them at different times. Just please don't make the food quality and temperature suffer. It's not hard to time a skirt steak that's ordered rare - it cooks for practically no time. Pull the burger, and as it starts to rest, fire the steak. That's all. The asparagus was the best part of my plate. The sweet potato mash didn't taste smoked, and was bland. The skirt steak was overcooked, closer to well done than anything else, making it chewy and really kinda terrible. It was also underseasoned, and the demi glace was gloppy and had no hint of smoke flavor. D's burger was also underseasoned, which is a little amazing considering the smoked burger, two cheeses, bacon, caramelized onion, and chipotle aioli - that should be lots of great flavors. But, chewy bacon, not well-melted cheese, blah beef, and missing-in-action aioli don't add up to good flavors. The duck fat fries don't even compare to those at Salt - bland and served at room temperature. The place was moderately busy - not crazy, but lots of tables. We chatted with the table of four next to us, at which two people had ordered the burger and were also not enjoying it. Maybe it was an off night? We love the space in here, and the beer menu, so maybe we'll end up here again for appetizers, but we've had much better elsewhere. The service wasn't bad, but nobody ever came back to check on how our food was until quite a while after it had arrived, so we didn't get to give feedback about the temperature the steak was cooked to, or sauce for the burger.
(2)
Kerri M.
I like the look of the interior, it's pretty cool. I've been here twice and both times I got the grilled cheese and tomato soup. Scrumptious, I say! Also, my date got the burger both times and seemed to enjoy it. I like the variety of beers on tap, the main reason I come here, to be honest. What I don't like, it's kinda loud in there and the service is a bit slow.
(3)
Scarlett H.
I like to think of this place as the local hideyhole of deliciousness. It's a very ambient and classy place, despite having a bar section and TVs, but it's got the dark lighting and dark paneled wood and a lovely cozy atmosphere. Drinks are served in all sorts of interesting glasses and cups (water in Mason jars) if you didn't get enough of the hipster decorations. I came with a big group, and they are very accommodating (the next table over had 16 people), even when 4 of our crew never showed up. The servers are very attentive and the food is great. I personally vouch for the fish tacos. The pork sliders are not bad, the smoke burger is a fairly good burger (apparently better if you order it medium ish, but I like them well done and that probably ruins the taste haha), duck fat fries are also amazing (definitely get the aioli, don't settle for ketchup), and the pork shank is not particularly unique (standard shank..what can I say). What they do have is a huge beer selection--they carry a lot of foreign beers and it's a great place to try your taste bud. I had the Frambozen (belgium raspberry tart) - excellent for those who want a bit of fruit but doesn't take away from the alcohol nor does it drown itself in sugar.
(4)
Erik H.
Great place for date night or a spot to grab some good brew. Alewife imperial Porter is a beer you'll want to try
(4)
Rob P.
2.5 stars. I'd maybe come back here for drinks if someone insisted on it; but will never return for food. Here's the breakdown: Beer: 4-stars. 40 beers on tap. The selection is pretty good and prices are OK. Food: 2-stars. The smoke burger has got to be one of the most overrated things I have ever tasted. C'mon, you made a bacon cheeseburger with smoked Gouda. The one I ate was charred on the outside and cold on the inside. Hardly a decent "medium" cook. If this were just a $10 burger on a menu at a bar, I'd write it off as crappy bar food. But this is supposed to be the "signature" item here? Not good. Service: 1-star. Service started off OK. Our sever took our drink and food orders. She delivered the drinks and then we never saw her again. Someone else brought out our food and we sat there and ate with empty glasses. Then we sat for another 10 minutes after our meal waiting for her to bring out a check. She never showed. When I have to go get someone to let me pay and leave, you have failed massively in the service department. Apparently our server had left for the night. No one told us this or made any attempt to wait on us after that. Too bad for Alewife because we would have ordered at least one more round with dinner and were planning on sticking around at the bar afterward to explore the draft list. But you don't want our money? That's fine, plenty of other bars will happily take our money.
(2)
Michael M.
You haven't been here yet??? What are you waiting for!!! Smoke Burger.. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!! GREAT Gastropub and always friendly service. This has got to be one of the best places in Baltimore hands down.
(5)
Vinnie A.
The burger and duck fat fries were amaaaazing!
(5)
T O.
Service wasn't great. Had to seek out our server a couple of times. She ended up just disappearing and we got handed off to another server. I've been here one other time and the burger was pretty good. Though I do like my burgers well done my friends who ordered theirs medium rare also got burgers that were well done. Which was super disappointing since I had hyped up this burger to them so much. Fries are fine. Nothing to get excited about. Their beer selections were decent though twice I ordered two different beers they were out of both. My friends ran into the same problem. I'd probably stop in for a beer if I was ever in the neighborhood but won't go out of my way. Service and beer menu needs attention asap. Kitchen may need to re-train on cooking temperatures?
(3)
Lauren A.
Heard about their duck fat fries so I ordered their smoke burger to go. Atmosphere was cool. Parking is hard to find. Service was great. The burger and fries were good, but not five star. Plenty of substance but rather bland. Overall good experience.
(4)
Ben S.
Great food and TERRIBLE customer service. At the end of one of the workers shifts, they physically pushed me out of their way and stepped on my shoe. It's a shame, because with better staff it could be a stellar restaurant.
(3)
Carrie R.
Really yummy locally sourced food and a chill atmosphere. Would recommend the duck fat fries!
(4)
G H.
This place came highly recommended so I dined here with business associates on a Tuesday night. Made reservation for 7 but arrived at 630 and the gentleman at the door immediately seated us in the back room, which was great because it was very busy. Has an extensive beer list but the first one I tried to order on tap was out. The local Full Tilt I ordered was good. I opted for the cajun pot pie which was very tasty and spicy with shrimp, crab, rice and andouille, but rather small. Associate had the airliner chicken which she also said was good but there wasn't much to it. My other associate had the smoke burger which was huge with a large amount of fries. Service was pretty good, we had both a waiter and waitress which was odd. Looks like a very old building, so it was very loud inside, which I expected, and fine with me, as it's a bar, but if you're looking for quiet dining this isn't your place. As I said, this was highly recommended, but there's nothing here that I experienced that merited the recommendation. It wasn't bad, but nothing out of this world.
(3)
Lauren M.
Please management, take yourself off of the "late night" food listings. Your kitchen closes at 11:30.
(1)
Kathy R.
Reservations tonight at 630. Noted has tickets to show across the street when making the reservation, as requested. Table wasn't ready til 640. No big deal. Waited an hour for dinner, had to snarf it down to get to the show in time. No apologies, just excuses. Food was good but no time to really enjoy it. Really really disappointing.
(3)
George C.
Came in for an early dinner on a Sunday night. Alewife is in a pretty cool building. High ceilings, random balcony overlooking the dining room, lots of art work, etc... Just a funky old building. I ordered the fish tacos but they were out of them so I went with the boar sliders. They were flavorful but a little over cooked and on the dry side. The deal breaker for me was the buns used for the sliders. Instead of the buns being slightly toasted and chewy they were hard and on the crunchy side. It was a bummer. CRUNCH with every bite. My wife ordered the burger and it was cooked perfect and tasty. Her bun wasn't over toasted and it was a really good burger. They have a huge beer selection and the cocktail list was solid. Our server was nice. He knew the menu well. Especially when it came to the beer list. No dessert?!?! What the heck! I asked for a dessert menu and our server said they didn't have one. Why is having a couple of dessert items on the menu such a pain in the ass? I don't get it. Lame. I don't get to Baltimore often but I would eat here again. Not anytime soon because I have other places to explore first. Maybe when I come back they'll have dessert?
(3)
Debra S.
Loved the atmosphere but out of the 3 Smoky Burgers ordered for the table 3 had cold fries and my burger was luke warm but I didn't want to wait for the to warm it up so I settled for that and they got new fries for us. My friend ordered the pork shank and it also came out very cold and he returned it but didn't get his meal back for 15 more minutes. When I asked the waiter what was up with this cold food he said " I have no idea / control over the kitchen".... I will be steering anyone I know away from this place Poor food and customer service.
(1)
Kevin K.
Cavernous space, dark wood everywhere. The front room's too large and feels like an empty chuch. Bar service is friendly and prompt without being intrusive. Similar in size but well below Max's and OLaR for "best beer-lists in Bmore" (and FSK, Mahaffeys.. according to preference). Prices are $6-10 for a draft and the style variety is limited for such a large list: very few sours or smoked beers and lacking solid lagers. Selections per style aren't consistently high, and the list is dominated by sweet IPAs. The bottle list compensates though with a few excellent selections per style (De la Senne's Stouterik!). Buffalo Sliders - crispy exterior, dry interior. Gray throughout, the pickled veggies are a crunchy break from the one-note, nearly flavorless meat. The aoili is lightly spicy--slab it on next time! Tomato Soup - Great stuff. Texture spot on, hints of smoke but still appropriately acidic and tangy. The croutons provide the right crunch and read way cheaper than they taste--they are delicately flavored, just the right balance with the soup's profile.
(3)
Kristen R.
Staff were friendly and had great information of selections on tap. Setting was lively, a bit loud but maybe to be expected on a Thursday eveing inbetween shows at The Hippodrome- it is right across the street. Minus one star for being a bit greasier thn expected but the Brussel Sprouts (Lite Fare) were delicious and big enough portion to share with table of 4.
(4)
Sue K.
If i am ever back in baltimore, I'd come back here. I was in for a conference and a few of my friends drove into the city to see me. We needed a low key place to do dinner - and this could not have been any better. we had blackbean burger and a regular meat burger (I forget which one). The black bean burger was good except for the texture - the flavor was all there but it was a little too mushy. I think I'd add pickles or some sort of hard/crisp veggies to balance the texture. The meat burger (whichever one we got) was fantastic. Very VERY flavorful. We also hared a salad and an appetizer. Their beer selection was fantastic as well. Allegash beer on tap went well with the burgers and fries.
(4)
Scott C.
First of all, the reason to go is for the extensive and locally heavy beer menu. They have a very lovely selection of craft brews. The food is good, not great. We had 2 meals here- the duck fat fries are delicious and the the shrimps on grits were very tasty. Cajun pot pie was very good, though heavy on the rice. One of my favorite dishes, broiled Brussels sprouts, was done not as well as I would have liked. It was a bit soggy while I was expecting something borderline burnt/crispy. Overall, it is a decent dining experience, but the beer outshines the food. All is a bit overpriced. 2 entrees (cajun Pot Pie, 3 shrimp on grits), a salad, an order of fries and 4 beers ran $80,plus tip. Ouch.
(3)
William B.
Had a reservation for three at 6:00. Got there on time, but we were told there would be a 45-minute wait. Didn't bother. Why take reservations?
(1)
Megan S.
BEST fish tacos AND they have duckfat fries. Yes, it is perfect for that cheat meal at the end of the week. Nice comfortable atmosphere with dim lights and a huge drink selection if you want to take a load off. Some of the tables and seats are a little close together, but what better way to chat up with some friendly people?
(4)
Vickie S.
I've been here both for lunch and for dinner, and while I definitely think the full dinner menu is the bee's knees and really needs to be when you go to check out their food, the lunch menu is just a truncated version of dinner. For the carnivores, the menu has more than once included wild boar. F. Y. I. I didn't anticipate that the place became such a sports bar for Ravens games. Lunch with my mom and her husband was surrounded by purple burger-eaters, well before kickoff. I had always considered their atmosphere to be more classy than that, but if you limit your lunch to your sandwiches and fish and chips, maybe I should have guessed. I prefer the gorgeous lit-up dinner timeframe where the place seems warm and glows under the hanging lamps. We don't need more sports bars, Baltimore. We really don't. Their draught list is practically curated - and there's something for literally any taste between pours and bottles. Relatedly, the staff seems to always be bearded and/or lumberjack-hipster style young men. Your knit beanie may not have been exactly professional, waiter-dude, but you fit right in with your fellows. Come for the food and the beer. I just recommend not doing it at lunchtime or on game day.
(4)
Kim K.
Aweful Service From Owner Stopped by because of recommendation to try burger. Was told no tables available. Over next 20 minutes at least two parties came in without reservations and were given tables. Apparently we are not on the "cool" list & were given the shaft. Cant judge food because never given a table. 0 stars for effort. 0 stars for customer service. 0 stars for being jerks when we complained for crappy service. 1 star for bartender who tried to give a sh#t
(1)
camron W.
Go with the Smoke Burger and one of the great draught beers !
(5)
Traci R.
Disclaimer: I dined here the night of the John Mayer concert so it was PACKED. My friend and I sat in the bar area since we didn't have reservations. Drinks: My friend just got a regular double vodka and cranberry. I got the Bacon Bloody Brian because I believe that you can't go wrong w/ bacon....and I was right! his was one of the best Bloody Mary's I've had and I've had quite a few. I think they could cut the size of the drink in half and cut the cost as well. It's just a lot of tomato juice but the drink was awesome! Food: We both got the Smoke Burger, medium. Their medium looked a lot of medium rare. It took us more than 45mins to get our food so I wasn't about to send it back but I definitely crossed my fingers that a stomach bug wasn't in my future (which it wasn't). But the burger was good though. And yes, they do warn you that the almighty Smoke Burger takes longer than regular old burgers buuuut 45mins+ is excessive. But I'll attribute that to the fact that everybody in the restaurant ordered one. I was excited for the duck fat fries buuuut I felt like I could taste the oil. They were good though. All in all, I liked it. I'll have to try it again with a reservation and get the entire experience. I like the ambiance of the place though. Cute little private rooms throughout. Great for a date!
(3)
Ed W.
While traveling for work, I stopped in here because it was raining, and I wanted a beer and a burger. So let me start with the best part of the review - this place has a nice burger. It was not great. The bun was a little dry. The bacon was overpowering of the patty (lots of bacon, which is nice but when there are bacon strips hanging 2-3 inches off in all directions, that's a bit too much for me). The patty was WAY overcooked, as in like zero color and zero flavor. But the ingredients were there to make it good, and I assume whoever was in charge in the kitchen was lacking ability or focus to cook it up well. So I will give the place the benefit of the doubt on the burger (and the fries, which were fine). The beer list is also impressive. No mega-produced, bad-tasting beers here (e.g. Bud Light). Nice selection of west coast brews. The bartenders also know the beers and can describe pretty much everything, plus they will give you a small sample of a beer so you don't waste your money. That's a nice feature. The wings I started out with were the driest wings I have ever had the luxury of trying to eat. Raspberry, jalapeño wings. Nice idea. Fail on execution. Again, see above re whoever was in the kitchen. Took entirely too long to get food for the few number of people eating. The bartender was knowledgable but not really friendly. The decor and interior is a nice idea, to take a historical building and make it into a restaurant. So that's a plus. But I really cannot give it more than 3 stars, because of the decent service, the bad wings, and the way overcooked burger. If I just wanted a good beer, I would definitely return. I don't think I'll eat again.
(3)
Lauren M.
A short walk to the Hippodrome or Camden Yards, Alewife is great for getting a bite before or after any event. The architecture and details of the building are great, but it's the extensive list of beers and comfort food that will bring me back again. We arrived before a baseball game and had to wait just a few minutes to get seated. Our server was great and came to check on us during our meal. Overall a great find!
(4)
Scott S.
First, the beer. They have 40 very well selected craft taps. Great mix of local, U.S. craft and international beers. Also a great mix of styles. They don't waste any taps on the standard crap beers, so those that don't like craft beers will have to go with a bottle, can or cocktail. Beer highlights for today include Ballast Point Sculpin, Troegs Nugget Nectar, Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, Firestone Walker Union Jack and North Coast Old Rasputin (nitro). Second, the food. I haven't managed to get anything other than the Smoke Burger because it is just about flawless. Brioche bun, duck fat fries, perfectly medium rare (on the rarer side if anything), juicy, a little char. Awesomeness. Third, the atmosphere. For me, this is the perfect bar atmosphere. Very casual, but still nice. Decent sized, beautiful bar. Plenty of tables. It's in an old bank so the building facade is gorgeous and inside there are very high ceilings and huge windows that let in a lot of light. It's pretty much the perfect bar. UPDATE: I wrote this review several months ago, but forgot to post it. I've been back twice since then and it's still awesome and I can also add that the Hop BBQ chicken sandwich is pretty tasty.
(5)
Dana F.
Fantastic beer and food selection! Sit at the bar and they'll let you taste the draught beer before you choose what to order. If you like scotch, they have a great selection. They even let us smell each before making a decision. The best was Hedonism from Compass in England. Very hard to find, but very smooth.
(5)
Mattzilla M.
I come here a lot because they have awesome bartenders, great food, and delicious beer! It's also near my house and my go-to bar of choice. Thai peanut wings are sweet, not spicy and come with a great dipping sauce. The crab cake platter is solid, comes with a salad and a fried green tomato which is a nice touch. The smoke burger is to die for! The beer selection is off the charts, and they have something for everyone. If they are out of the beer you want ask the bartender to recommend a similar one. They know their stuff. They have a big selection of liquor, some hard to find scotches, and an innovative house cocktail list. The bacon bloody Mary is amazing! The bar was once a bank. It has the original vault out front and has a lot of character on the inside. There is A lot of seating for dining in, but sitting at the bar is better. A lot of people cry on here about not getting service and blah blah blah. This bar is right across the street from the Hippodrome and near the First Mariner Arena. If there is a show that night, a concert, or event they may be busy and do hold reservations on the tables. Keep that in mind. This is a must try for the true beer and ale house lover!
(5)
Andrew B.
There is no question that on our recent east coast vacation this was by far and away the best bar we visited. After taking an Uber from another bar to Alewife upon the suggestion of a bartender at yet another bar(I am well versed in bars) we walked in and up some steps into Alewife. The space was awesome! a big open room with tables and a second floor balcony that overlooked the main room. The stained glass windows were made by a former bartender there who now works at the bar we left to go to Alewife. Small word. We sat at the bar. How typical..... What made Alewife so special were the bartenders/servers. They were the people having the most fun in the place! Great conversation about the beer, the place, and a whole bunch of random stuff. My wife and I split an orange with them. How that came about I don't remember but it was a good time. Seriously, if you are in Baltimore go to Alewife and chill at the bar with the awesome people who work there. The taps are pretty great too!
(5)
Tracy B.
My boyfriend and I dined here last night before seeing a show at the Hippodrome. We could not get a reservation at the restaurant next door, so decided to go to Alewife instead. It wasn't anything mind-blowing, but we both enjoyed our dinner and it's a good spot for pub style food, and conveniently located directly across from the theater. The Smoke Burger was delicious - really good, thick, juicy, flavorful patty - would recommend! We also ordered the Obligatory Salad, which was large enough to share and tasty. I had a special cocktail from the bar that did not disappoint. I'd dine here again if I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)
George T.
5 stars, i'll tell you why. -BEST BURGER in Baltimore: here's the menu desciption----SMOKE BURGER* $15 "An 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli," My mouth waters every time i read the burger components, and I after trying the burger twice already, the it's the real deal. I always get my burger medium and with duck fat fries (which are a couple of extra dollars). The meat portion of the burger it self has been cooked perfectly both times, nice and juicy and slightly red in the middle the way it should be. The meat is made a little undersalted, but if you take a bite with the rest of the toppings, the taste is perfect. BACON is THICK and crispy (could be a bit more crispy). You need to come here soley for the burger. - OTHER stuff to complement your burger I've always gotten the THAI peanut wings. They are standard wings, fried well. The sauce is what makes it unique. homemade Mayo/thousand island based but with a thai kick. Def worth a try while you wait for your burger to cook. SOUP - i had one of the best soups here, this was unexpected. It was a loaded baked potato soup, incredible texture and complex mix of flavors, perfectly salted and spiced. This might have been as good as the burger. My only complaint was that it didn't come with bread. I havne't tried many of the beers and other dishes, but word of mouth and based on what i've tried, the rest of the menu must be and is good. Def come here. OVERALL: get the SMOKEHOUSE BURGER.
(5)
Seth G.
After going to the "Poe's Birthday Celebration" at Westminster Hall, food and drink were need. So after a turn or two walking down the street we came across Alewife. Looking at the place we know it would fit the bill (food and drink). The beer selection was awesome (think the "Everything is Awesome" song from the Lego Movie, but with beer). The service was real good. Dinner was very tasty. Yes, the beers were awesome. For desert we had the carrot cake and it was not crazy size (as in a giant slab). I use to work in restaurants for many many moons, I really liked that they only had one desert on the menu at a time. What a great idea and yes, it was also tasty. My only complaint was they had on the Indy at New England playoff game. I fucking hate Indy, since I was raised right and was a Baltimore Colts fan. In the end it did not matter, since New England (no, I am not a fan) kicked the shit out of Indy and there was much rejoicing with more tasty beers (again, think "Everything is Awesome" song from the Lego Movie, but with beer).
(3)
Sabiano H.
Eh. Honestly dont know why people are raving about this place. Has a cool barish atmosphere. Service is solid, no complaints. Ordered there smokehouse burger which is supposed to be amazing. Thought it was subpar. Duck fries were delicious but I've had better. Overall 6.9/10 -SaBeast
(3)
Kristy W.
First read about Alewife in Food and Wine magazine--decided that was a ringing enough endorsement for me and the hubs to make a journey to Baltimore from DC to eat there (or to "go to the aquarium"). It has lots of great draft beers on the menu and a really creative and interesting menu. The building itself is great--an old bank building gives the space a unique vibe and an interesting feel. We started with a couple beers (duh), and the crab deviled eggs. I had the fish tacos with sweet potato crispies and the hubs had the cuban. Both were great, as were the beers. The server was attentive and friendly, and offered tastes of beers as well as suggestions. I would definitely go back if I was in the area.
(4)
Rachelle R.
I had gone to Alewife for the first time about a month ago while on a business trip, and I had a wonderful experience. The vast selection beer was what had drawn us to this place. It is convenient with being within walking distance from the water and other things to do. Our server was well versed on their beer selection and was helpful in recommending new things to try. Aside from the great beer, the food was savory. I would recommend the wild boar sliders, and my friend had ordered their house burger. The burger, also savory was enough for two people. If I make it back out to Baltimore any time soon I will certainly be back.
(4)
Erich W.
I was staying at a Inner Harbor Hotel for a conference and was trying to find a non-chain restaurant. The Baltimore Magazine had a write up on Alewife so I decided to give it a try. I was hoping to get crab cakes while I was here in Baltimore. While they were on the menu, after I read Yelp I decided I had to try the Smoked Hamburger with duck fat fries. I was glad I did. Great hamburger and fries especially with the Srichacha aioli dipping sauce. Price was a little on the high side but overall worth it. Beer selection was outstanding as well and they let you try a sample before buying. Would definitely go back
(5)
Bill T.
Mother, may I sleep with danger? No, this isn't about the classic Tori Spelling movie* from the 1990's, instead it's about my visit to the Alewife mothership in Baltimore. On several occasions, I've visited the Alewife location in Queens and had quite an enjoyable time. It's even been the site of beer club three times, the most of any establishment. Therefore I was quite excited when planning a trip to Baltimore to meet up with some old college friends, one of them tells me "We're going to Alewife". We pull up outside and I kind of fall getting out of the taxi, but that actually got me introduced to one of the owners/managers of the place. I happened to mention that'd I just been at the location in Queens a couple of days prior and that led to us getting a tour of the restaurant. It's very cool as it's in an old bank and they have a lot of nooks and crannies as well as a very cool private party space on the top floor. The spiral staircase in the back is gorgeous. Anyway, after the tour we were thirsty so we sat down to drink and eat. I had a Belgian sampler and it had very tasty beers on it, the highlight of which was the Stone Cali-Belgique. I liked it so much I ordered a full one. Everyone else enjoyed their beers as well. Food was roundly well-received. Roasted tomato soup was as good as it sounds. And I loved the crabcakes. They were not quite like the standard ones you find in Maryland but they were light and delicious and I could eat them all day. To get back to my opening line, my visit to the mothership was spectacular, but it would be dangerous if I lived in Baltimore because I would be there all the time and would probably just have my paycheck direct deposited to their account. Good food, awesome beer, nice staff....this place rocks. ______________________________________ * imdb.com/title/tt0117092
(5)
Logan N.
I'm a fan of this place because it has spunk and it was routy! Love the crowd. Food is decent and their cocktails are delicious ($8). It was only a few blocks from my hotel and they open till 2am (but the kitchen closes several before then. Smoke burger: 4 stars for the soggy bun at the end of the meal, but still delicious.
(4)
Carey M.
Came her Saturday night with the hubs. The place has a great draught beer selection but the food sucks and is over priced. I ordered the smoked burger (per the waiter it won best burger in baltimore)...um, not so much. There was nothing special to it, had no taste and probably should have not won any award in my opinion. The hubs got the airliner chicken for 20 bux which was just a piece of chicken in broth and veggies...20 dollars! Come on! Come here for beer but eat somewhere else!
(2)
Ceirra A.
The Cajon pot pie blew my mind!!! Very good everyone at our table was satisfied with their meals!
(5)
Sarah K.
I liked the atmosphere. Their beer selection is very impressive, and our food was decent. Prices seemed a little steep for eating at a bar, but the selection of food was definitely beyond your typical bar food. There were several interesting items. I got the catfish tacos. They weren't bad, but they weren't that flavorful either.
(4)
Melissa W.
Oops, can't believe I didn't write a review for this place yet. I've now eaten here 3 times. Twice I had the Smoke Burger (15) and once I had the grilled cheese & tomato soup (?). Both were great. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the atmosphere. It's an old bank! The safe room is still there! WONDERFUL craft beers on tap. I think they have about 20 rotating taps. AND THEY DON'T SERVE JUNK. Halle - ('scuse the language) EFFING - lujah! The last time I was there a man asked for a Coors Light and the bartender (politely) informed him that they don't serve any of the mass market beers in their esteemed location. Score. My burger the 2nd time was not as good, which is why I removed a star. The bacon was super unpredictable, even on the same burger! One end of one piece was like ... raw. Okayyy, not raw, but very, very lightly cooked. The other end was burnt to a crisp. I don't even know how that happened. Not a huge problem, I just pulled that piece off. Staff have always been super kind & knowledgeable about the beer & food. All desserts are made in-house! So great. They are priced accordingly though. Met the owner the 2nd time I was there. Super cool guy. Will definitely be back. Oh - they have comedy like once a week too.
(4)
Nicole E.
Order the burger!! The fish tacos are also amazing. Heck, everything I've had here is great. And the beer selection is one of the best in Baltimore. Max's in Fells may have a few more - but you won't miss the extras when you have so many quality ones to choose from. They are printed on a menu and written on a huge chalkboard, both of which are frequently updated as kegs run out. This is a great spot pre-Baseball game or pre-show at the Hippodrome. Whenever I have out of town guests staying on the West side of the harbor, I always recommend that they come here. The venue (an old bank) is beautiful and historic - it gives you a glimpse of old Baltimore. There is trivia here one night a week (unsure of the day but call to check). A few friends and I were dining when it started and were welcomed to play. It was both challenging and a lot of fun. We won... And we're able to cash in our prize (a gift card) on the spot for free shots/beers as many team members were visiting from out of town and wouldn't be able to return soon enough to use it. The boyfriend and I also came here for New Years a few years ago and it was a ton of fun! There was no cover with free passed hors d'oeurves and champagne toast. We're hoping this is available again this year because it was a great time!
(5)
Vanessa H.
Went here last night on a whim. When we walked up, we were shocked at how busy it was for a wednesday at 630pm, but got in line anyway. When we finally made it to the hostess stand, the hostess seemed to be attempting to get us to leave. She was sheepish, talking under her breath, and doing that odd, no eye contact, speaking out of the side of her mouth thing. You know what I'm talking about. Anyway, she told us several times that the wait was at least 45min since we didn't have a reservation. We asked her to put us on the list, and we would head to the bar in the meantime. After this interaction, we realized there was a show and her attempts to move us along were because of possible time restraints. Had she just asked "are you going to a show" the entire exchange could've been much less awkward. Cut to the bar. We got seats right away, and the bartenders were fantastically attentive. I asked for something on the beer board, but it had been sold out. The girls were spot on with their suggestions for alternatives and let us taste anything we wanted. The beer selection here is top notch. There really is something for every beer drinker. I even tried the cider which was delicious. Disclaimer: if your idea of a good beer is a Bud or Miller Lite, just keep walking. About a half an hour into our wait, we were seated. The seats are tight, but not so tight that your conversation is competing with your neighbors. We started with the calamari. Love that they kept tentacles, not just a plate of rings. The chipotle aioli it was served with was tasty. Not too spicy or smokey, just right. We both ordered the Smoke Burger, medium. The menu says this burger takes longer to cook, and I honestly don't know how long it took. We were having such a nice time enjoying each others company. The atmosphere here is really relaxing and the staff is all about keeping your drink full, but not being an annoyance. ( I did notice that some tables were quite upset about how long it was taking for their meals to come out. Perhaps this isn't the best "before show" dinner place. ) So, the burgers. My medium was a bit more well than medium. I imagine is has to be in order to get the middle cooked at all. This burger is big. Overwhelmingly large. The bacon was so well done it just shattered after a bite. It was clearly bacon that had been made hours in advance. This burger is ok. Just ok. I really am curious as to where people are eating before they come here and declare this the best burger ever. Speaking of the best ever, the duck fat fries? They're fries. Nothing more, nothing less. Our waiter, Gabe was great. Friendly, attentive, kept us happy, but wasn't constantly on top of us. I don't know that it's a dinner place for us. Im open to trying some other dishes on the menu, but I wouldn't order the smoke burger again and I cant see us making reservations to run back for another dinner dining experience. We would definitely come back for beers and apps at the bar though.
(3)
Amy C.
VERY good food and drinks. Unfortunately, our waitress wasn't that great. We came here for my cousin's birthday at the last minute when the original place where she made a reservation fell through. We were able to nab two tables for our large party. Before we everyone in our party arrived, the waitress kept pressuring us to order food even though we had already ordered drinks. Then after we placed our dinner orders, she messed up two of them (including mine). She didn't seem to enjoy having to serve a large party on that Saturday night, and we didn't enjoy having to give her gratuity.
(3)
Brittany S.
Before the Kanye concert at the Baltimore Arena, we decided to walk in and grab some beers and grub. As we are walking up about 10 police cars pull up, tackle some guy and arrest him. LOL good ol' Bmore. Just a coincidence that this happened right in front of Alewife, or maybe foreshadowing that we should've kept walking to another restaurant? I don't know... It was Valentine's Day and the hostess had somebody cancel right before we walked in so we got a table. A little surprised the place was all booked up for Valentine's Day. The service was... well what service? I have no idea who are server was, somebody new came to our table every maybe 15 minutes. The ciders were OK, the Hop Betty was interesting but very hoppy. We ordered the oysters as an appetizer and they were the worst I've ever day. The fried oysters themselves were good but the butter corn sauce was just... why!? Why would you do that?! We saw everybody order the burger so we ordered one to share since it was huge and came with fries. The table next to use sent both of their burgers back because they were undercooked. We order our burger medium and it came out burnt and dry. That's all I could taste even over the sauce, the bun, even the bacon! All I tasted was BURNT. The duck fat fries were the best part but who cared at that point. For 2 people it was $75 (including tip) down the drain.
(2)
Meredith E.
I love a good ol night of drinking at the Alewife. The bartenders and servers are awesome. On Mondays there is trivia hosted by a local theatre professional. Alewife always has an epic beer list. I love trying something new and delicious every time. On my latest visit, I finally tried the food and was severely disappointed. The entire menu sounded fantastic, but the taste was not there. The smoke burger was bland and the duck fat fries were cold. The bun had a 'should have been tossed out yesterday' feel. The fish tacos were the fishiest of all fish taco I have ever tried. I could not even finish one. It could be the rare evil fish they use. Seriously inedible. Overall, I love this place, but will never order food again.
(4)
Jessica K.
I ordered food for to-go from here when I stayed at a hotel around the corner for a work meeting. The bartender was friendly and attentive and on the random Monday night I was there, there was trivia which kept me occupied while I waited for the salad I ordered. (And good thing too because my salad took a while.) They have a pretty substantial list of draft beers and a lot of amazing whiskey just waiting to be drank. I, however, sipped on water while I waited for my Alewife salad topped with a crab cake. After I got it, I speed-walked back to my hotel room to find that plastic silverware didn't accompany the salad. I didn't fret, got some from the front desk of my hotel and feasted. The salad was very fresh and the balsamic vinegarette was great. Though the star of this salad was the crab cake (which when added made the salad $24). It had minimal seasoning and a ton of crab. I saved it for after i ate all the greens. From what I could tell, this is one of the only cool places that is opened after typical work hours downtown. It was huge and pretty busy for a Monday night. Overall, though things weren't perfect, I'd totally go back and chill, play trivia and drink all their beer and whiskey. The salad was good so i'd try something else. It might have been a bit pricey but I am going to expense my dinner and well, Baltimore is a city after all. Worth your while!
(4)
Scott P.
Good healthy food and if you want a burger, they got that covered too. Arugula salad, black bean burger, Alewife salad with grilled yardbird all very tasty. Fries were fresh also.Loved the music selection. Great service too. I'm a music producer and vintage Yo La Tengo, New Pornographers, Decemberists etc just wonderful.
(4)
Brent F.
Not good in any way. Upon arrival we were informed of the 8 beers that they ran out of and one of the dinner specials. Ordered the Brussel sprouts which were limp and not impressive, sitting in a pool of balsamic. I originally wanted to order the burger, but after seeing how huge it was, decided to go with the Airline Chicken which was supposedly the "chef's choice." The dish was $20 so I expect it to be pretty nice size and tasty. Unfortunately it was one very small chicken breast sitting in a bowl of broth with a bit of sausage (a small bit) and a few other veggies. The flavor was overly salty and unimpressive. I felt like I was at a Ruby Tuesdays but paying twice as much. My wife had the fish tacos which were just ok, not great. Were interested in dessert but they only had plain cheesecake (waitress said they aren't a dessert place and suggested Cheesecake Factory at the harbor). Don't waste your time here!
(1)
Russell P.
We heard about the Alwwife from the owner at the Air B&B at which we stayed -- very glad she recommended it! The atmosphere is all wood panelling and brass rails -- as a former bank should be! -- the main room was a bit noisy but there were quieter nooks available, and we took one, right under the vast chalkboard of beer offerings. We tried a few local ones we hadn't heard of before and were not disappointed! The food was great -- the "Smoke Burger" fabulous as advertised, with so much flavor, even just in a piece of the bun (one of our party, being off gluten, shared 'round his with the rest of us), that you just couldn't resist. The crab cakes were excellent if a tad pricey (well, "Market Price," what can you say?); we also tried some spicy oysters and shrimp with gumbo, both delicious. With the atmosphere, food, and drink all very congenial, our party of five went home very satisfied. I'm sure we'll go here again!
(4)
Beth G.
Came here with some friends. I had beers which were good. My partner ordered the crab devilled eggs. That morning he was vomiting and had terrible diarrhea. This continued throughout the day. He was not getting better and ended up going to the hospital for IV fluids. My partner does not drink and had no alcohol. I am not sure if the eggs had gone bad or what but here is a warning to never order devilled eggs from a bar!
(2)
Zeph D.
The smoke burger is a work of art for your tongue and mouth. The smell, sight and physical touch alone can't describe what takes place when you bite into it. IT IS AMAZING. Yeah it's a burger... but it should be in another class or category really. Like Steak Scultpure or something. The fries are dope too. I really got a crush on this burger. I won't say it's the best burger EVER but I will say it's the best burger I ever had. There's ground beef stuck between two pieces of bread then there's THIS masterpiece. Eating it is like watching an orchestra play live or seeing Circue du Soliell in person (if you're into that type of stuff.)
(5)
Nay P.
Bottom line up front. Come here for the smoke burger and beer or you will most likely be disappointed. NOT for anything else one the menu, AND NOT for the service! Choose this establishment for a going away party for two of my co-workers. Wanted to order ahead since we only have a limited time for lunch. I brought over the orders and specifically told Matt we needed everything ready by 11:30 AM - 11:40 AM. We get there and have pre-made name tags for our food which was nice but the food did not come out until 11:50 AM - 12:00 PM and later. Everything was brought out sporadically. Everyone who got the burger including myself liked it however others who ordered anything else were not happy. Kind of put a damper on the occasion. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
(3)
Ashley M.
Great food!! This place has a great selection of beers! The food was really really good! Great service and the girls were friendly. I would recommend the shrimp and grits(that's what I had) it was perfect proportions for someone that didn't want to over eat, and it was just enough to last me through the night. Along with a few beers ;-)
(4)
Christine K.
I've only been for drinks and I don't think it's anything special. Beer selection is decent for the area and the cocktail list is short but diverse. I would not recommend asking for any cocktails that require more than three very basic ingredients. I ordered a drink off the menu and the bartender swapped out rye for bourbon without asking me or letting me know. I noticed and mentioned that it would have been nice to know before making my drink, and all I got was shrug. If you keep your expectations low because you came here because it's convenient, then you'll be happy.
(2)
Sarcofago N.
Modern, fake, Tourist trap, bad frat vibe, in a more-dangerous-looking type area than normal dangerous-looking areas in Baltimore. Has a fake upscale feel with a lot of beer selections (which are constantly tapped out and not good selections in the first place: IPAs. Seeming newbie barkeeps. Cocktails and food sounded good on paper but tasted low rent. This place might impress grandparents who've never been to a big city and were desperate enough to get out of their car in a ghetto Go to Hampden if you want to be around real scensters and foodies. AVOID
(2)
Teri H.
Went here for lunch with a coworker and we split the alewife salad and the smoke burger. Alewife Salad: Baby Greens, Grilled & Chilled Asparagus, St. Pete's Blue, Candied Cashews, Spiced Granny Smith Apples, Balsamic. I felt all these ingredients were pretty sparse and I did not see any cashews but otherwise the salad has a good flavor just wish there were more ingredients. Smoke Burger: 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun, Duck Fat Fries. Burger was cooked perfectly and delicious just wish the bacon was cooked more. It was pretty limp. This place is close to the Hippodrome and is def worth a visit as they offer craft beers as well.
(3)
Kim K.
As cool as it gets in Baltimore. I am not one to hit pubs, but this place is special. Loved the music they were playing: Echo & the Bunnymen, Jesus & Mary Chain, New Order, etc. ok, I am showing my age here, but the crowd was very diverse. The service was fantastic and the architecture is very cool- be sure to walk up to the women's rest room! I had the spicy pumpkin soup and their famous burger. Both were delicious. Highly recommend for service, atmosphere & food.
(5)
Pat M.
Alewife remains a very strong place to grab a quality beer. However, the last two times I've visited the food has been merely so-so, and last night the service was disappointing. What have they done to the shrimp and grits?! Once upon a time it was a delectable bowl of creamy goodness, with large shrimp arranged around the edges. Now it's three stacks of fried grits patties, with smaller shrimp and a sauce atop each. Not impressed. Meanwhile, I've had their semi-legendary smokeburger my last two visits, and it's just been good but not great. As for last night's service, there appeared to be just one waitress working the tables, and she really didn't seem to be into it. We ordered food, yet no salt and pepper was brought to the table. And we had numerous extended waits at various points in the meal. I'll be back for sure, but likely just for the craft beer selection.
(3)
Jennifer E.
Baltimore is my home away from home for four days of every year when I visit for Maryland Deathfest. In the past few years (out of five, so far) that I've gone, I've hit up Alewife for either food or drinks. They get really crowded around the weekend that I go since it appears that a lot of graduations fall around Memorial Day weekend. Even when they are busy I tend to get pretty decent service. The food is what I would describe as upscale bar food. I've tried their burger, steak and fish tacos with local catfish so far. Everything always tastes delicious and fresh. I would also recommend getting the duck fat fries. Even if your entree doesn't come with them, you should definitely get a basket to split with the table. So good. Their beer selection is superb and at times they even offer flights (not always though). I can always count on getting a fantastic local brew to try out. I would certainly say that when I'm in Baltimore I will continue to go back as I haven't tried anything I haven't liked. Food is good and the prices are crazy considering the quality. I also appreciate that our server complimented us metal heads for being actually nicer and better customers then most of the tourists she encounters. Can't judge a book by it's cover, ya know?
(4)
Jackie D.
My daughter and I were here after a show at the Hippodrome late one Friday night in December. Naturally, it was packed. We had drinks at the busy bar while we waited for a table. Our table was comfortably spaced and the servers were attentive. We shared the shrimp and grits for an appetizer. Thought they were fine. Having read other reviews, I had to try the Smoke Burger (and I rarely order burgers). I was not disappointed. It was delicious and huge! Plenty leftover for the next day. My daughter had the wild boar sliders. She liked them (so did her brother when he at the leftovers the next day.) I thought they were okay, but they had more of a meatball flavor to me. I wouldn't hesitate to return next time I see a show at the Hippodrome.
(4)
Angela M.
I was tasked with finding a dinner spot near the convention center that would be tasty but casual enough to allow baby and stroller in tow. After reading the other reviews that mentioned the former bank building, I vaguely recalled coming here the last time that I was in town for a convention (2008), but only for drinks and appetizers, and vaguely remembered a positive experience, so decided to try it. We arrived around 6 on a Wednesday, and while the front room had a decent crowd, we were the first in the back. We struggled a little with the beer list, since our group don't tend toward the craft beer scene, and they were changing out several kegs since it was Craft Beer Week. The server was patient with us, bringing several samples to make sure we got the right pint. I had the Oysters Chesapeake and the Alewife salad, while the others ordered the peach quesadilla with chicken and the catfish tacos. The Oysters were just ok. The tepid temperature did little for the taste and nothing for the texture. The sauce made the breading of the fried oyster slightly soggy. The greens were wilted. The salad was crisp and fresh. The tacos were the hit of the night. Decent experience, and I would return, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend.
(3)
Josh A.
I went to Alewife on Valentine's Day for a romantic dinner with my date, and while dinner was fine, and the space beautiful, the multiple TVs and very loud 90's grunge music really soured the tone. Not sure why they thought nonstop Nirvana and Bush was the was to go on a night when there were many couples there for dates, and the music was so loud you could barely talk to your table partner. Dinner itself was good for the most part. We started with the special vanilla-infused lobster appetizer, which was a little sweet for my taste (it reminded me of cake batter with lobster in it), but not terrible. My date had the fish tacos, which neither of us particularly loved (there was a slightly off taste about them that neither of us could identify), and I had the crab cakes with fried green tomato and creamed corn, which was excellent. We finished with the very tasty chocolate mousse cake. Over all, it was a little hit or miss, but the service was excellent. Our waitress, though very busy, was attentive and thoughtful with her recommendations. Alewife is great if you want to grab an interesting beer with some buddies (their beer list is truly phenomenal), but not great for a romantic date...or if you want to have a conversation. This strikes me as a little off since their decor and menu seem to want to be a fine dining restaurant, but the sound level and ambiance directly counteract that.
(3)
C G.
Went before going to see a show at the Hippodrome with my sister around 5:45- Told the server we would be there for a while. When it was time to order, we asked for Brussels sprouts as an appetizer, and then the smokehouse burgers as a meal. We also asked for an arugula salad with chicken to be brought out later around 7 when our third party arrived. At 6:20ish, the Brussels sprouts, the burgers, and the salad without chicken came out at the same time. What is the point of asking for an appetizer and asking for a meal to come out later if the server isn't going to follow directions? I've worked as a server before. I know it's simply a matter of entering what you want in the system (appetizer) then entering the other meals to be cooked about 5 minutes later (some POS systems even allow you to enter it with the appetizer and put a hold on it so it wouldn't be sent to the kitchen right away) Our server clearly didn't care. The Brussels sprouts were terrible. We sent them back along with the salad. The server pretended that she didn't know we wanted chicken on it and we didn't want the salad out right away. She then presumed to ignore us for the rest of the meal. I had to get up and go to the bar to get napkins and I had to get up to ask her for water, which she gave me attitude and didn't even bother bringing us water (continued talking to other servers and going to other tables) On top of the absolutely terrible service, the prices were a little ridiculous (3 bucks for an iced tea ?) and the burger wasn't special at all. The couple next to us were complaining about the service as well. Matter of fact, the tables surrounding us looked unhappy with empty drinks. I won't be back.
(1)
Virginia B.
Lots of poor reviews but my experience was pretty good! Huge beer selection and best black bean burger I've ever had! My only complaint would be service was slow for the place being empty and the menu was too small. And i like a small menu.
(4)
M K.
I work near here, so have come here for multiple post-work dinner/happy hour. I've had their burgers on several occasion, and it's pretty tasty. It's a simple burger with nothing too crazy inside of it. The bun is nicely toasted, meat is quite juicy and tasty. The prices can be a little steep though. Overall, a great place for a burger.
(3)
Deborah N.
Bartender gave great service. She noticed I wasn't eating my burger, which was undercooked and cold. She had the kitchen make me a new one. Not stick the old one in the microwave, but make a whole new one. Plus this place was recommended bu my dad, who is even fussier than me! Did not drink any alcohol but others all liked their drinks!
(4)
Michele L.
This place is beautiful but with beers averaging $7 and $8 a pint (with many at $10-11), I can't justify spending money in a place with such a rude staff. The hostess in particular was nasty to us, and made us feel like a nuisance. It's convenience to the Hippodrome makes it hard to pass up before a show, but I'll be hard pressed to go back.
(2)
Tunaidi A.
Everyone raves about Alewife's Smoke Burger. While the Smoke Burger is good, juicy, tender, etc., I'm not convinced that it's a burger worth $15. I've had better burgers before that really pack a bang for less. That being said, service is friendly and attentive and the calamari is a decent play. Parking is scarce, but not impossible.
(3)
Mac O.
Alewife exudes a really lovely gastropub-y vibe here, with its two-story, mirror-backed bar and large, arched windows. Husband and I found an exceptional draught beer selection on our visit, including St. Bernardus Abt 12, Dogfish Saison du Buff, Houblon Chouffe, Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, and Allagash Tripel. I couldn't resist sampling the Imperial Scoville from local Laurel brewery Jailbreak, a double IPA brewed with "hot ass peppers." I loved how the subtle heat complemented the bitter hops. To wash down the beers, husband and I each ordered the Alewife Salad: baby greens, grilled asparagus, St. Pete's blue (I think our salads actually had goat cheese instead), candied cashews, spiced Granny Smith apples, and balsamic dressing. We also both added a crab cake which, while steep at a $15 charge, was truly impressive. The lumps of crab were huge, the filler minimal, and the sear to the outside gave the cakes a nice golden crust. The salad plus the crab cake make a perfectly filling light lunch. Our bartender was excellent as well. She was happy to offer us little tastes of any beers we were unsure about, and she made intelligent recommendations based on our preferences and the brews we'd already ordered. We were quite pleased to find a watering hole with such a diverse and impressive draught selection this close to Camden Yards (a short, half-mile walk straight down Eutaw Street). Alewife makes for a refreshing change from the mob-scene of sports bars right next to the Park and now occupies a slot on our list of Balmer favorites.
(4)
Deb W.
My friend says this place is a dive....I disagree. The place has a great ambiance, high ceilings and awesome windows. Those duck fat fries were pretty good. The black bean burger wasn't great. It lacked flavor and fell apart easily. My friend had the Smoke Burger and regular fries. I think his selection was much better. The fries were relish and the burger bite that I had hit the spot (we were a bit hung over). We sat at the bar and there were only 2 other tables. I was impressed with the beer selection, and gather that on weekend nights it becomes a fun bar. There is a balcony upstairs, which would be a great place to be on a Saturday night!
(4)
Sonya L.
We went to Alewife for dinner on Saturday night with a big group to celebrate our friends moving away. We arrived early for our reservation and the hostess didn't greet us but said "come back at 8". As we approached the bar we were treated like we were in the way by a particular waitress when we were just trying to walk through. We went to the bar and waited and while we waited the bartender was friendly and helpful with questions. Once we sat at our table the waiter listed everything that the restaurant was out of (at 8pm on a Saturday). The problem with this was we ordered other stuff off of the food/drink menu he had to keep coming back to tell us they were out of it. The drink menu is extensive and looked great so we were having trouble ordering. As we ordered and asked questions about drinks he really couldn't give us any information on any of the drinks. I ordered a burger and I ordered it medium. It came out raw. I like meat more on the rare side so I went with it but as I got to the middle I had to take out the entire middle of the burger. The burger also completely lacked flavor. Their duck fat fries did have good flavor but came out cold. We also split the artichokes and they were decent. They tasted like fried dough. The majority of the table said their food was "okay". My husband did get one of their beers and it was delicious. We all also really liked the cocktails on their menu. After dinner we went to the bar to hang out with our friends for a few more minutes because it was a going away get together and we didn't know when we'd see each other again. As we stood at the full bar a rude waitress made it known several times that we were in her way by yelling in our ears, "COMING THROUGH". I found this so annoying and it really was making it hard for me to enjoy spending time with my friends. We had no where else to go and were trying our very best to stay out of her way. We weren't drunk or being obnoxious. She clearly just doesn't enjoy her job and felt the need to take it out on customers. This was also the same waitress that made us feel like we were in her way when we were walking through to the bar area initially. I gave this place 2 stars because their service is unwelcoming and unknowledgeable, food is bland and drinks/beer are the only thing this place has going for it. We will not be returning.
(2)
Kristin D.
Have been here multiple times before the theater. Make reservations. Food is consistently good. From fish tacos to their salad to what I think is best on menu their burger with duck fat fries although cook time on burger can be a little slow. Good service everyone e is pkeasant. And always fun to be in an old converted bank. Not fancy but a fun casual place no pretentious attitude here.
(4)
Will D.
The Wild Boar Sliders were the most disgusting and vomit inducing dinner I have ever forcibly consumed. After hours of dry heaving and hydrating myself with Gatorade I mustered the strength to write this review. Only in comparison to a slab of meat burnt to cinder perfection and then lathered with an oceans amount of salt can one find a similar "meal". Not only did they rob my taste buds but they gave me only three golf sized sliders covered in carrots with a side of a few fries for my arm and a leg payment of $15. I can only recommend this meal to masochists and those who desire look a likes of coal chunks to put in their children's stockings this coming Christmas. - Cameron Dorr
(1)
Rebekah T.
When I first heard the name Alewife, I was intrigued by the old bank turned into a gastro pub/ alehouse . It didn't take much to convince my guy to stop in for lunch. We love places like this. I was instantly impressed by the old bank that still holds so much of the character. The old front doors turned into a window booth caught my eye. We sat at the bar, which was the former front bank counter. The bartender was very nice. He knew a lot about the beer and cocktails. We had a great conversation the entire time, which made it fun. My guy went with a sampler which was made up of beers he had not yet tried before. On his recommendation, I tried the Berre Leimonad - cucumber & basil infused death's door gin, freshly squeezed lemon & orange juice, crushed berry blend, simple syrup, rocks. It was really great! I want to make my own infused gin now. We already knew what we wanted, the Smoke Burger with the Duck Fat Fries! The 11oz House Ground Ribeye, Brisket, Skirt & Filet of Beef Burger, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere Cheese, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun IS AMAZING. It is by far the BEST BURGER I've had and I have been around..... The Smoke Burger with the Duck Fat Fries were so very decadent. We split the plate and were both very pleased with the burger.The Duck Fat fries are the icing on the cake, so flavorful and nothing like I've tried before. We were in burger heaven, After another beer or two, we had to pull ourselves away from Alewife. It's one of my favorite places and lunches in Baltimore. I don't think that I'll forget that burger easily, as it's now set the bar for burgers in my book.
(5)
Lisa K.
Went to Alewife for dinner when I was in Baltimore a few weeks back. Our party of 3 were seated after a couple minutes of confusion waiting at the empty podium with a sign that wasn't sure if it wanted to say 'seat yourself' or 'please wait to be seated'. The waitress informed us of the specials they had that day along with a list of local beers that would be accompanied with a free beer glass, however, they ran out of glasses....lame. We ordered the asparagus appetizer and there was really nothing about it that stood out taste wise, it could have easily accompanied my entree. I ordered the short rib dinner and it was also just an average dish. The beer BBQ sauce was decent, the cornbread was a bit dry and the portions were a tad small for $26 a plate. One thing that irked me was that the short rib dish was my 3rd choice since some of the options on the menu they ran out of or were"no longer on the menu"....they just hadn't updated it. I enjoyed the pub atmosphere of Alewife but wish I could have tried the dishes that had appealed to me initially.
(3)
Daphne H.
Good local bar to get a drink after a show at the hippodrome. They have a good beer list. The duck fat fries are a worthwhile treat to go with a glass of wine or cold beer.
(3)
Rebecca G.
Alewife has a lot of reviews online, and many are very positive. It's been recommended to us many times, and we've heard that their burger is one of the best around, so decided to finally try it. No lie, the pictures for this review have been sitting in a folder labeled "downtown bad burger" for a little over a year, out of procrastination and avoidance of writing a bad review. We hate writing bad reviews, we really do. We'd rather have awesome meals all the time and have to complain about making hard choices between great restaurants. Unfortunately, sometimes we have a meal that isn't great. I sat on this one for a while, in case we went back to give them another chance, or someone talked me out of disliking this food. But that didn't happen, so here we go. His plate: Smoke burger - An 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Duck Fat Fries Her plate: Grilled Skirt Steak - 7oz Snake River Farms Kobe Skirt Steak (ordered rare), Stone Smoked Porter Demi Glace, Smoked Sweet Potato Mash, Grilled Asparagus The smoke burger has a note that it takes a little longer to prepare than other items. Well, that's fine with us - we have no problem waiting. So long as the other entrees don't suffer in quality. Timing doesn't bother us (as much as it definitely bothers some diners) - either bring both at once, having fired the steak much later than the burger; or bring them at different times. Just please don't make the food quality and temperature suffer. It's not hard to time a skirt steak that's ordered rare - it cooks for practically no time. Pull the burger, and as it starts to rest, fire the steak. That's all. The asparagus was the best part of my plate. The sweet potato mash didn't taste smoked, and was bland. The skirt steak was overcooked, closer to well done than anything else, making it chewy and really kinda terrible. It was also underseasoned, and the demi glace was gloppy and had no hint of smoke flavor. D's burger was also underseasoned, which is a little amazing considering the smoked burger, two cheeses, bacon, caramelized onion, and chipotle aioli - that should be lots of great flavors. But, chewy bacon, not well-melted cheese, blah beef, and missing-in-action aioli don't add up to good flavors. The duck fat fries don't even compare to those at Salt - bland and served at room temperature. The place was moderately busy - not crazy, but lots of tables. We chatted with the table of four next to us, at which two people had ordered the burger and were also not enjoying it. Maybe it was an off night? We love the space in here, and the beer menu, so maybe we'll end up here again for appetizers, but we've had much better elsewhere. The service wasn't bad, but nobody ever came back to check on how our food was until quite a while after it had arrived, so we didn't get to give feedback about the temperature the steak was cooked to, or sauce for the burger.
(2)
Kerri M.
I like the look of the interior, it's pretty cool. I've been here twice and both times I got the grilled cheese and tomato soup. Scrumptious, I say! Also, my date got the burger both times and seemed to enjoy it. I like the variety of beers on tap, the main reason I come here, to be honest. What I don't like, it's kinda loud in there and the service is a bit slow.
(3)
Scarlett H.
I like to think of this place as the local hideyhole of deliciousness. It's a very ambient and classy place, despite having a bar section and TVs, but it's got the dark lighting and dark paneled wood and a lovely cozy atmosphere. Drinks are served in all sorts of interesting glasses and cups (water in Mason jars) if you didn't get enough of the hipster decorations. I came with a big group, and they are very accommodating (the next table over had 16 people), even when 4 of our crew never showed up. The servers are very attentive and the food is great. I personally vouch for the fish tacos. The pork sliders are not bad, the smoke burger is a fairly good burger (apparently better if you order it medium ish, but I like them well done and that probably ruins the taste haha), duck fat fries are also amazing (definitely get the aioli, don't settle for ketchup), and the pork shank is not particularly unique (standard shank..what can I say). What they do have is a huge beer selection--they carry a lot of foreign beers and it's a great place to try your taste bud. I had the Frambozen (belgium raspberry tart) - excellent for those who want a bit of fruit but doesn't take away from the alcohol nor does it drown itself in sugar.
(4)
Erik H.
Great place for date night or a spot to grab some good brew. Alewife imperial Porter is a beer you'll want to try
(4)
Rob P.
2.5 stars. I'd maybe come back here for drinks if someone insisted on it; but will never return for food. Here's the breakdown: Beer: 4-stars. 40 beers on tap. The selection is pretty good and prices are OK. Food: 2-stars. The smoke burger has got to be one of the most overrated things I have ever tasted. C'mon, you made a bacon cheeseburger with smoked Gouda. The one I ate was charred on the outside and cold on the inside. Hardly a decent "medium" cook. If this were just a $10 burger on a menu at a bar, I'd write it off as crappy bar food. But this is supposed to be the "signature" item here? Not good. Service: 1-star. Service started off OK. Our sever took our drink and food orders. She delivered the drinks and then we never saw her again. Someone else brought out our food and we sat there and ate with empty glasses. Then we sat for another 10 minutes after our meal waiting for her to bring out a check. She never showed. When I have to go get someone to let me pay and leave, you have failed massively in the service department. Apparently our server had left for the night. No one told us this or made any attempt to wait on us after that. Too bad for Alewife because we would have ordered at least one more round with dinner and were planning on sticking around at the bar afterward to explore the draft list. But you don't want our money? That's fine, plenty of other bars will happily take our money.
(2)
Michael M.
You haven't been here yet??? What are you waiting for!!! Smoke Burger.. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!! GREAT Gastropub and always friendly service. This has got to be one of the best places in Baltimore hands down.
(5)
Vinnie A.
The burger and duck fat fries were amaaaazing!
(5)
T O.
Service wasn't great. Had to seek out our server a couple of times. She ended up just disappearing and we got handed off to another server. I've been here one other time and the burger was pretty good. Though I do like my burgers well done my friends who ordered theirs medium rare also got burgers that were well done. Which was super disappointing since I had hyped up this burger to them so much. Fries are fine. Nothing to get excited about. Their beer selections were decent though twice I ordered two different beers they were out of both. My friends ran into the same problem. I'd probably stop in for a beer if I was ever in the neighborhood but won't go out of my way. Service and beer menu needs attention asap. Kitchen may need to re-train on cooking temperatures?
(3)
Lauren A.
Heard about their duck fat fries so I ordered their smoke burger to go. Atmosphere was cool. Parking is hard to find. Service was great. The burger and fries were good, but not five star. Plenty of substance but rather bland. Overall good experience.
(4)
Ben S.
Great food and TERRIBLE customer service. At the end of one of the workers shifts, they physically pushed me out of their way and stepped on my shoe. It's a shame, because with better staff it could be a stellar restaurant.
(3)
Carrie R.
Really yummy locally sourced food and a chill atmosphere. Would recommend the duck fat fries!
(4)
G H.
This place came highly recommended so I dined here with business associates on a Tuesday night. Made reservation for 7 but arrived at 630 and the gentleman at the door immediately seated us in the back room, which was great because it was very busy. Has an extensive beer list but the first one I tried to order on tap was out. The local Full Tilt I ordered was good. I opted for the cajun pot pie which was very tasty and spicy with shrimp, crab, rice and andouille, but rather small. Associate had the airliner chicken which she also said was good but there wasn't much to it. My other associate had the smoke burger which was huge with a large amount of fries. Service was pretty good, we had both a waiter and waitress which was odd. Looks like a very old building, so it was very loud inside, which I expected, and fine with me, as it's a bar, but if you're looking for quiet dining this isn't your place. As I said, this was highly recommended, but there's nothing here that I experienced that merited the recommendation. It wasn't bad, but nothing out of this world.
(3)
Lauren M.
Please management, take yourself off of the "late night" food listings. Your kitchen closes at 11:30.
(1)
Kathy R.
Reservations tonight at 630. Noted has tickets to show across the street when making the reservation, as requested. Table wasn't ready til 640. No big deal. Waited an hour for dinner, had to snarf it down to get to the show in time. No apologies, just excuses. Food was good but no time to really enjoy it. Really really disappointing.
(3)
George C.
Came in for an early dinner on a Sunday night. Alewife is in a pretty cool building. High ceilings, random balcony overlooking the dining room, lots of art work, etc... Just a funky old building. I ordered the fish tacos but they were out of them so I went with the boar sliders. They were flavorful but a little over cooked and on the dry side. The deal breaker for me was the buns used for the sliders. Instead of the buns being slightly toasted and chewy they were hard and on the crunchy side. It was a bummer. CRUNCH with every bite. My wife ordered the burger and it was cooked perfect and tasty. Her bun wasn't over toasted and it was a really good burger. They have a huge beer selection and the cocktail list was solid. Our server was nice. He knew the menu well. Especially when it came to the beer list. No dessert?!?! What the heck! I asked for a dessert menu and our server said they didn't have one. Why is having a couple of dessert items on the menu such a pain in the ass? I don't get it. Lame. I don't get to Baltimore often but I would eat here again. Not anytime soon because I have other places to explore first. Maybe when I come back they'll have dessert?
(3)
Debra S.
Loved the atmosphere but out of the 3 Smoky Burgers ordered for the table 3 had cold fries and my burger was luke warm but I didn't want to wait for the to warm it up so I settled for that and they got new fries for us. My friend ordered the pork shank and it also came out very cold and he returned it but didn't get his meal back for 15 more minutes. When I asked the waiter what was up with this cold food he said " I have no idea / control over the kitchen".... I will be steering anyone I know away from this place Poor food and customer service.
(1)
Kevin K.
Cavernous space, dark wood everywhere. The front room's too large and feels like an empty chuch. Bar service is friendly and prompt without being intrusive. Similar in size but well below Max's and OLaR for "best beer-lists in Bmore" (and FSK, Mahaffeys.. according to preference). Prices are $6-10 for a draft and the style variety is limited for such a large list: very few sours or smoked beers and lacking solid lagers. Selections per style aren't consistently high, and the list is dominated by sweet IPAs. The bottle list compensates though with a few excellent selections per style (De la Senne's Stouterik!). Buffalo Sliders - crispy exterior, dry interior. Gray throughout, the pickled veggies are a crunchy break from the one-note, nearly flavorless meat. The aoili is lightly spicy--slab it on next time! Tomato Soup - Great stuff. Texture spot on, hints of smoke but still appropriately acidic and tangy. The croutons provide the right crunch and read way cheaper than they taste--they are delicately flavored, just the right balance with the soup's profile.
(3)
Kristen R.
Staff were friendly and had great information of selections on tap. Setting was lively, a bit loud but maybe to be expected on a Thursday eveing inbetween shows at The Hippodrome- it is right across the street. Minus one star for being a bit greasier thn expected but the Brussel Sprouts (Lite Fare) were delicious and big enough portion to share with table of 4.
(4)
Sue K.
If i am ever back in baltimore, I'd come back here. I was in for a conference and a few of my friends drove into the city to see me. We needed a low key place to do dinner - and this could not have been any better. we had blackbean burger and a regular meat burger (I forget which one). The black bean burger was good except for the texture - the flavor was all there but it was a little too mushy. I think I'd add pickles or some sort of hard/crisp veggies to balance the texture. The meat burger (whichever one we got) was fantastic. Very VERY flavorful. We also hared a salad and an appetizer. Their beer selection was fantastic as well. Allegash beer on tap went well with the burgers and fries.
(4)
Scott C.
First of all, the reason to go is for the extensive and locally heavy beer menu. They have a very lovely selection of craft brews. The food is good, not great. We had 2 meals here- the duck fat fries are delicious and the the shrimps on grits were very tasty. Cajun pot pie was very good, though heavy on the rice. One of my favorite dishes, broiled Brussels sprouts, was done not as well as I would have liked. It was a bit soggy while I was expecting something borderline burnt/crispy. Overall, it is a decent dining experience, but the beer outshines the food. All is a bit overpriced. 2 entrees (cajun Pot Pie, 3 shrimp on grits), a salad, an order of fries and 4 beers ran $80,plus tip. Ouch.
(3)
William B.
Had a reservation for three at 6:00. Got there on time, but we were told there would be a 45-minute wait. Didn't bother. Why take reservations?
(1)
Megan S.
BEST fish tacos AND they have duckfat fries. Yes, it is perfect for that cheat meal at the end of the week. Nice comfortable atmosphere with dim lights and a huge drink selection if you want to take a load off. Some of the tables and seats are a little close together, but what better way to chat up with some friendly people?
(4)
Vickie S.
I've been here both for lunch and for dinner, and while I definitely think the full dinner menu is the bee's knees and really needs to be when you go to check out their food, the lunch menu is just a truncated version of dinner. For the carnivores, the menu has more than once included wild boar. F. Y. I. I didn't anticipate that the place became such a sports bar for Ravens games. Lunch with my mom and her husband was surrounded by purple burger-eaters, well before kickoff. I had always considered their atmosphere to be more classy than that, but if you limit your lunch to your sandwiches and fish and chips, maybe I should have guessed. I prefer the gorgeous lit-up dinner timeframe where the place seems warm and glows under the hanging lamps. We don't need more sports bars, Baltimore. We really don't. Their draught list is practically curated - and there's something for literally any taste between pours and bottles. Relatedly, the staff seems to always be bearded and/or lumberjack-hipster style young men. Your knit beanie may not have been exactly professional, waiter-dude, but you fit right in with your fellows. Come for the food and the beer. I just recommend not doing it at lunchtime or on game day.
(4)
Kim K.
Aweful Service From Owner Stopped by because of recommendation to try burger. Was told no tables available. Over next 20 minutes at least two parties came in without reservations and were given tables. Apparently we are not on the "cool" list & were given the shaft. Cant judge food because never given a table. 0 stars for effort. 0 stars for customer service. 0 stars for being jerks when we complained for crappy service. 1 star for bartender who tried to give a sh#t
(1)
camron W.
Go with the Smoke Burger and one of the great draught beers !
(5)
Traci R.
Disclaimer: I dined here the night of the John Mayer concert so it was PACKED. My friend and I sat in the bar area since we didn't have reservations. Drinks: My friend just got a regular double vodka and cranberry. I got the Bacon Bloody Brian because I believe that you can't go wrong w/ bacon....and I was right! his was one of the best Bloody Mary's I've had and I've had quite a few. I think they could cut the size of the drink in half and cut the cost as well. It's just a lot of tomato juice but the drink was awesome! Food: We both got the Smoke Burger, medium. Their medium looked a lot of medium rare. It took us more than 45mins to get our food so I wasn't about to send it back but I definitely crossed my fingers that a stomach bug wasn't in my future (which it wasn't). But the burger was good though. And yes, they do warn you that the almighty Smoke Burger takes longer than regular old burgers buuuut 45mins+ is excessive. But I'll attribute that to the fact that everybody in the restaurant ordered one. I was excited for the duck fat fries buuuut I felt like I could taste the oil. They were good though. All in all, I liked it. I'll have to try it again with a reservation and get the entire experience. I like the ambiance of the place though. Cute little private rooms throughout. Great for a date!
(3)
Ed W.
While traveling for work, I stopped in here because it was raining, and I wanted a beer and a burger. So let me start with the best part of the review - this place has a nice burger. It was not great. The bun was a little dry. The bacon was overpowering of the patty (lots of bacon, which is nice but when there are bacon strips hanging 2-3 inches off in all directions, that's a bit too much for me). The patty was WAY overcooked, as in like zero color and zero flavor. But the ingredients were there to make it good, and I assume whoever was in charge in the kitchen was lacking ability or focus to cook it up well. So I will give the place the benefit of the doubt on the burger (and the fries, which were fine). The beer list is also impressive. No mega-produced, bad-tasting beers here (e.g. Bud Light). Nice selection of west coast brews. The bartenders also know the beers and can describe pretty much everything, plus they will give you a small sample of a beer so you don't waste your money. That's a nice feature. The wings I started out with were the driest wings I have ever had the luxury of trying to eat. Raspberry, jalapeño wings. Nice idea. Fail on execution. Again, see above re whoever was in the kitchen. Took entirely too long to get food for the few number of people eating. The bartender was knowledgable but not really friendly. The decor and interior is a nice idea, to take a historical building and make it into a restaurant. So that's a plus. But I really cannot give it more than 3 stars, because of the decent service, the bad wings, and the way overcooked burger. If I just wanted a good beer, I would definitely return. I don't think I'll eat again.
(3)
Lauren M.
A short walk to the Hippodrome or Camden Yards, Alewife is great for getting a bite before or after any event. The architecture and details of the building are great, but it's the extensive list of beers and comfort food that will bring me back again. We arrived before a baseball game and had to wait just a few minutes to get seated. Our server was great and came to check on us during our meal. Overall a great find!
(4)
Scott S.
First, the beer. They have 40 very well selected craft taps. Great mix of local, U.S. craft and international beers. Also a great mix of styles. They don't waste any taps on the standard crap beers, so those that don't like craft beers will have to go with a bottle, can or cocktail. Beer highlights for today include Ballast Point Sculpin, Troegs Nugget Nectar, Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, Firestone Walker Union Jack and North Coast Old Rasputin (nitro). Second, the food. I haven't managed to get anything other than the Smoke Burger because it is just about flawless. Brioche bun, duck fat fries, perfectly medium rare (on the rarer side if anything), juicy, a little char. Awesomeness. Third, the atmosphere. For me, this is the perfect bar atmosphere. Very casual, but still nice. Decent sized, beautiful bar. Plenty of tables. It's in an old bank so the building facade is gorgeous and inside there are very high ceilings and huge windows that let in a lot of light. It's pretty much the perfect bar. UPDATE: I wrote this review several months ago, but forgot to post it. I've been back twice since then and it's still awesome and I can also add that the Hop BBQ chicken sandwich is pretty tasty.
(5)
Dana F.
Fantastic beer and food selection! Sit at the bar and they'll let you taste the draught beer before you choose what to order. If you like scotch, they have a great selection. They even let us smell each before making a decision. The best was Hedonism from Compass in England. Very hard to find, but very smooth.
(5)
Mattzilla M.
I come here a lot because they have awesome bartenders, great food, and delicious beer! It's also near my house and my go-to bar of choice. Thai peanut wings are sweet, not spicy and come with a great dipping sauce. The crab cake platter is solid, comes with a salad and a fried green tomato which is a nice touch. The smoke burger is to die for! The beer selection is off the charts, and they have something for everyone. If they are out of the beer you want ask the bartender to recommend a similar one. They know their stuff. They have a big selection of liquor, some hard to find scotches, and an innovative house cocktail list. The bacon bloody Mary is amazing! The bar was once a bank. It has the original vault out front and has a lot of character on the inside. There is A lot of seating for dining in, but sitting at the bar is better. A lot of people cry on here about not getting service and blah blah blah. This bar is right across the street from the Hippodrome and near the First Mariner Arena. If there is a show that night, a concert, or event they may be busy and do hold reservations on the tables. Keep that in mind. This is a must try for the true beer and ale house lover!
(5)
Rachelle R.
I had gone to Alewife for the first time about a month ago while on a business trip, and I had a wonderful experience. The vast selection beer was what had drawn us to this place. It is convenient with being within walking distance from the water and other things to do. Our server was well versed on their beer selection and was helpful in recommending new things to try. Aside from the great beer, the food was savory. I would recommend the wild boar sliders, and my friend had ordered their house burger. The burger, also savory was enough for two people. If I make it back out to Baltimore any time soon I will certainly be back.
(4)
Andrew B.
There is no question that on our recent east coast vacation this was by far and away the best bar we visited. After taking an Uber from another bar to Alewife upon the suggestion of a bartender at yet another bar(I am well versed in bars) we walked in and up some steps into Alewife. The space was awesome! a big open room with tables and a second floor balcony that overlooked the main room. The stained glass windows were made by a former bartender there who now works at the bar we left to go to Alewife. Small word. We sat at the bar. How typical..... What made Alewife so special were the bartenders/servers. They were the people having the most fun in the place! Great conversation about the beer, the place, and a whole bunch of random stuff. My wife and I split an orange with them. How that came about I don't remember but it was a good time. Seriously, if you are in Baltimore go to Alewife and chill at the bar with the awesome people who work there. The taps are pretty great too!
(5)
Tracy B.
My boyfriend and I dined here last night before seeing a show at the Hippodrome. We could not get a reservation at the restaurant next door, so decided to go to Alewife instead. It wasn't anything mind-blowing, but we both enjoyed our dinner and it's a good spot for pub style food, and conveniently located directly across from the theater. The Smoke Burger was delicious - really good, thick, juicy, flavorful patty - would recommend! We also ordered the Obligatory Salad, which was large enough to share and tasty. I had a special cocktail from the bar that did not disappoint. I'd dine here again if I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)
George T.
5 stars, i'll tell you why. -BEST BURGER in Baltimore: here's the menu desciption----SMOKE BURGER* $15 "An 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli," My mouth waters every time i read the burger components, and I after trying the burger twice already, the it's the real deal. I always get my burger medium and with duck fat fries (which are a couple of extra dollars). The meat portion of the burger it self has been cooked perfectly both times, nice and juicy and slightly red in the middle the way it should be. The meat is made a little undersalted, but if you take a bite with the rest of the toppings, the taste is perfect. BACON is THICK and crispy (could be a bit more crispy). You need to come here soley for the burger. - OTHER stuff to complement your burger I've always gotten the THAI peanut wings. They are standard wings, fried well. The sauce is what makes it unique. homemade Mayo/thousand island based but with a thai kick. Def worth a try while you wait for your burger to cook. SOUP - i had one of the best soups here, this was unexpected. It was a loaded baked potato soup, incredible texture and complex mix of flavors, perfectly salted and spiced. This might have been as good as the burger. My only complaint was that it didn't come with bread. I havne't tried many of the beers and other dishes, but word of mouth and based on what i've tried, the rest of the menu must be and is good. Def come here. OVERALL: get the SMOKEHOUSE BURGER.
(5)
Seth G.
After going to the "Poe's Birthday Celebration" at Westminster Hall, food and drink were need. So after a turn or two walking down the street we came across Alewife. Looking at the place we know it would fit the bill (food and drink). The beer selection was awesome (think the "Everything is Awesome" song from the Lego Movie, but with beer). The service was real good. Dinner was very tasty. Yes, the beers were awesome. For desert we had the carrot cake and it was not crazy size (as in a giant slab). I use to work in restaurants for many many moons, I really liked that they only had one desert on the menu at a time. What a great idea and yes, it was also tasty. My only complaint was they had on the Indy at New England playoff game. I fucking hate Indy, since I was raised right and was a Baltimore Colts fan. In the end it did not matter, since New England (no, I am not a fan) kicked the shit out of Indy and there was much rejoicing with more tasty beers (again, think "Everything is Awesome" song from the Lego Movie, but with beer).
(3)
Sabiano H.
Eh. Honestly dont know why people are raving about this place. Has a cool barish atmosphere. Service is solid, no complaints. Ordered there smokehouse burger which is supposed to be amazing. Thought it was subpar. Duck fries were delicious but I've had better. Overall 6.9/10 -SaBeast
(3)
Kristy W.
First read about Alewife in Food and Wine magazine--decided that was a ringing enough endorsement for me and the hubs to make a journey to Baltimore from DC to eat there (or to "go to the aquarium"). It has lots of great draft beers on the menu and a really creative and interesting menu. The building itself is great--an old bank building gives the space a unique vibe and an interesting feel. We started with a couple beers (duh), and the crab deviled eggs. I had the fish tacos with sweet potato crispies and the hubs had the cuban. Both were great, as were the beers. The server was attentive and friendly, and offered tastes of beers as well as suggestions. I would definitely go back if I was in the area.
(4)
Erich W.
I was staying at a Inner Harbor Hotel for a conference and was trying to find a non-chain restaurant. The Baltimore Magazine had a write up on Alewife so I decided to give it a try. I was hoping to get crab cakes while I was here in Baltimore. While they were on the menu, after I read Yelp I decided I had to try the Smoked Hamburger with duck fat fries. I was glad I did. Great hamburger and fries especially with the Srichacha aioli dipping sauce. Price was a little on the high side but overall worth it. Beer selection was outstanding as well and they let you try a sample before buying. Would definitely go back
(5)
Ceirra A.
The Cajon pot pie blew my mind!!! Very good everyone at our table was satisfied with their meals!
(5)
Sarah K.
I liked the atmosphere. Their beer selection is very impressive, and our food was decent. Prices seemed a little steep for eating at a bar, but the selection of food was definitely beyond your typical bar food. There were several interesting items. I got the catfish tacos. They weren't bad, but they weren't that flavorful either.
(4)
Bill T.
Mother, may I sleep with danger? No, this isn't about the classic Tori Spelling movie* from the 1990's, instead it's about my visit to the Alewife mothership in Baltimore. On several occasions, I've visited the Alewife location in Queens and had quite an enjoyable time. It's even been the site of beer club three times, the most of any establishment. Therefore I was quite excited when planning a trip to Baltimore to meet up with some old college friends, one of them tells me "We're going to Alewife". We pull up outside and I kind of fall getting out of the taxi, but that actually got me introduced to one of the owners/managers of the place. I happened to mention that'd I just been at the location in Queens a couple of days prior and that led to us getting a tour of the restaurant. It's very cool as it's in an old bank and they have a lot of nooks and crannies as well as a very cool private party space on the top floor. The spiral staircase in the back is gorgeous. Anyway, after the tour we were thirsty so we sat down to drink and eat. I had a Belgian sampler and it had very tasty beers on it, the highlight of which was the Stone Cali-Belgique. I liked it so much I ordered a full one. Everyone else enjoyed their beers as well. Food was roundly well-received. Roasted tomato soup was as good as it sounds. And I loved the crabcakes. They were not quite like the standard ones you find in Maryland but they were light and delicious and I could eat them all day. To get back to my opening line, my visit to the mothership was spectacular, but it would be dangerous if I lived in Baltimore because I would be there all the time and would probably just have my paycheck direct deposited to their account. Good food, awesome beer, nice staff....this place rocks. ______________________________________ * imdb.com/title/tt0117092
(5)
Logan N.
I'm a fan of this place because it has spunk and it was routy! Love the crowd. Food is decent and their cocktails are delicious ($8). It was only a few blocks from my hotel and they open till 2am (but the kitchen closes several before then. Smoke burger: 4 stars for the soggy bun at the end of the meal, but still delicious.
(4)
Carey M.
Came her Saturday night with the hubs. The place has a great draught beer selection but the food sucks and is over priced. I ordered the smoked burger (per the waiter it won best burger in baltimore)...um, not so much. There was nothing special to it, had no taste and probably should have not won any award in my opinion. The hubs got the airliner chicken for 20 bux which was just a piece of chicken in broth and veggies...20 dollars! Come on! Come here for beer but eat somewhere else!
(2)
Melissa W.
Oops, can't believe I didn't write a review for this place yet. I've now eaten here 3 times. Twice I had the Smoke Burger (15) and once I had the grilled cheese & tomato soup (?). Both were great. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the atmosphere. It's an old bank! The safe room is still there! WONDERFUL craft beers on tap. I think they have about 20 rotating taps. AND THEY DON'T SERVE JUNK. Halle - ('scuse the language) EFFING - lujah! The last time I was there a man asked for a Coors Light and the bartender (politely) informed him that they don't serve any of the mass market beers in their esteemed location. Score. My burger the 2nd time was not as good, which is why I removed a star. The bacon was super unpredictable, even on the same burger! One end of one piece was like ... raw. Okayyy, not raw, but very, very lightly cooked. The other end was burnt to a crisp. I don't even know how that happened. Not a huge problem, I just pulled that piece off. Staff have always been super kind & knowledgeable about the beer & food. All desserts are made in-house! So great. They are priced accordingly though. Met the owner the 2nd time I was there. Super cool guy. Will definitely be back. Oh - they have comedy like once a week too.
(4)
Nicole E.
Order the burger!! The fish tacos are also amazing. Heck, everything I've had here is great. And the beer selection is one of the best in Baltimore. Max's in Fells may have a few more - but you won't miss the extras when you have so many quality ones to choose from. They are printed on a menu and written on a huge chalkboard, both of which are frequently updated as kegs run out. This is a great spot pre-Baseball game or pre-show at the Hippodrome. Whenever I have out of town guests staying on the West side of the harbor, I always recommend that they come here. The venue (an old bank) is beautiful and historic - it gives you a glimpse of old Baltimore. There is trivia here one night a week (unsure of the day but call to check). A few friends and I were dining when it started and were welcomed to play. It was both challenging and a lot of fun. We won... And we're able to cash in our prize (a gift card) on the spot for free shots/beers as many team members were visiting from out of town and wouldn't be able to return soon enough to use it. The boyfriend and I also came here for New Years a few years ago and it was a ton of fun! There was no cover with free passed hors d'oeurves and champagne toast. We're hoping this is available again this year because it was a great time!
(5)
Vanessa H.
Went here last night on a whim. When we walked up, we were shocked at how busy it was for a wednesday at 630pm, but got in line anyway. When we finally made it to the hostess stand, the hostess seemed to be attempting to get us to leave. She was sheepish, talking under her breath, and doing that odd, no eye contact, speaking out of the side of her mouth thing. You know what I'm talking about. Anyway, she told us several times that the wait was at least 45min since we didn't have a reservation. We asked her to put us on the list, and we would head to the bar in the meantime. After this interaction, we realized there was a show and her attempts to move us along were because of possible time restraints. Had she just asked "are you going to a show" the entire exchange could've been much less awkward. Cut to the bar. We got seats right away, and the bartenders were fantastically attentive. I asked for something on the beer board, but it had been sold out. The girls were spot on with their suggestions for alternatives and let us taste anything we wanted. The beer selection here is top notch. There really is something for every beer drinker. I even tried the cider which was delicious. Disclaimer: if your idea of a good beer is a Bud or Miller Lite, just keep walking. About a half an hour into our wait, we were seated. The seats are tight, but not so tight that your conversation is competing with your neighbors. We started with the calamari. Love that they kept tentacles, not just a plate of rings. The chipotle aioli it was served with was tasty. Not too spicy or smokey, just right. We both ordered the Smoke Burger, medium. The menu says this burger takes longer to cook, and I honestly don't know how long it took. We were having such a nice time enjoying each others company. The atmosphere here is really relaxing and the staff is all about keeping your drink full, but not being an annoyance. ( I did notice that some tables were quite upset about how long it was taking for their meals to come out. Perhaps this isn't the best "before show" dinner place. ) So, the burgers. My medium was a bit more well than medium. I imagine is has to be in order to get the middle cooked at all. This burger is big. Overwhelmingly large. The bacon was so well done it just shattered after a bite. It was clearly bacon that had been made hours in advance. This burger is ok. Just ok. I really am curious as to where people are eating before they come here and declare this the best burger ever. Speaking of the best ever, the duck fat fries? They're fries. Nothing more, nothing less. Our waiter, Gabe was great. Friendly, attentive, kept us happy, but wasn't constantly on top of us. I don't know that it's a dinner place for us. Im open to trying some other dishes on the menu, but I wouldn't order the smoke burger again and I cant see us making reservations to run back for another dinner dining experience. We would definitely come back for beers and apps at the bar though.
(3)
Amy C.
VERY good food and drinks. Unfortunately, our waitress wasn't that great. We came here for my cousin's birthday at the last minute when the original place where she made a reservation fell through. We were able to nab two tables for our large party. Before we everyone in our party arrived, the waitress kept pressuring us to order food even though we had already ordered drinks. Then after we placed our dinner orders, she messed up two of them (including mine). She didn't seem to enjoy having to serve a large party on that Saturday night, and we didn't enjoy having to give her gratuity.
(3)
Brittany S.
Before the Kanye concert at the Baltimore Arena, we decided to walk in and grab some beers and grub. As we are walking up about 10 police cars pull up, tackle some guy and arrest him. LOL good ol' Bmore. Just a coincidence that this happened right in front of Alewife, or maybe foreshadowing that we should've kept walking to another restaurant? I don't know... It was Valentine's Day and the hostess had somebody cancel right before we walked in so we got a table. A little surprised the place was all booked up for Valentine's Day. The service was... well what service? I have no idea who are server was, somebody new came to our table every maybe 15 minutes. The ciders were OK, the Hop Betty was interesting but very hoppy. We ordered the oysters as an appetizer and they were the worst I've ever day. The fried oysters themselves were good but the butter corn sauce was just... why!? Why would you do that?! We saw everybody order the burger so we ordered one to share since it was huge and came with fries. The table next to use sent both of their burgers back because they were undercooked. We order our burger medium and it came out burnt and dry. That's all I could taste even over the sauce, the bun, even the bacon! All I tasted was BURNT. The duck fat fries were the best part but who cared at that point. For 2 people it was $75 (including tip) down the drain.
(2)
Diana J.
One and done. Too bad I did not read the other reviews before I jumped into this restaurant. The food is okay, way over priced and the owner was a bit of a grump. We waited over 20 minutes for a server who was so rushed we had no clue what the "market price" for any item was. Waited over 45 minutes for the food to arrive - cold. For a restaurant that is so close to theaters and has been around for a time, you would think they would know how to handle crowds. Since the city of BMore has been shut down for the past few weeks, one would have hoped the owner would have been more accomodating when we asked him to close the blinds as the evening sun was blinding a number of patrons. Too many other GREAT places in BMore to ever go back.
(2)
Christina T.
I had really wanted to love this place. Honestly. The beer selection is on point and the fact it is a renovated bank building and has a wonderful dining atmosphere...but it is wildly inconsistent with its food. I usually settle for the Smoke Burger (which is not really living up to the hype) and the duck fat fries. At random, the fries range from burnt into oblivion, cold as hell to actually good fries. I went here on occasion when I lived closer to this part of Baltimore but once I moved to Mt Vernon (and closer to Brewer's Art), I never came back to Alewife.
(3)
Kamni G.
So being new to the city and being busy prevents one from having a yelp life sometimes but I scouted out this place and took the hubby there for his bday. His sister came into town to surprise him and all was well . But things got interesting really quick once we headed to Alewife. The drive leading to this venue is reminiscent of Oakland CA....yeah I said it. Now what made it even more interesting is the food. It was totally,utterly, and impressively yummy! The mac & cheese, duck fat fries and entrees were divine. The burger that takes 30 mins was def not worth it to those in our party of 4 that had it (2 people) however all 4 are clearly craving more beer, mac and cheese and duck fat fries. The atmosphere, an old bank building, very cool and nicely decorated. It made us all want to return and soon.
(4)
Lina J.
Was pretty disappointed with the food and especially the service at Alewife. We went for Saturday lunch and the place was pretty empty (there was maybe two other tables and a couple at the bar?) The sign said "Please seat yourself" but I didn't know that it also required unseating myself everytime I wanted to grab the attention of a server. We ordered the classic burger, black bean burger and fish and chips. The burgers were pretty good - especially the black bean burger. As were the duck fat fries that we ordered with the burgers. But that's where the positives end. Fish and chips were chewy and overcooked. First off, since the place wasn't even busy, I would've expected the servers to be more on top of their game. Instead, we literally waited 40 minutes for our food to come out. When it did, we asked for a side of BBQ sauce...which they didn't have. Well, what about honey mustard? Didn't seem to have that either. We had ordered duck fat fries as sides for both burgers but instead got one of them with regular fries. Since the servers decided to suddenly disappear, it took an additional 10 minutes to flag down someone (we eventually just went to the bartender, the only staff member we could see in the entire dining room). They gave us another order of fries but still...I really think it's ridiculous that we had to get up to flag someone down in such an empty room. Same treatment with the check...had to get up and flag down the bartender. What was supposed to be a quick hour lunch took twice as long because of sub-par service. I probably won't be returning anytime soon.
(2)
Amber M.
Handy Dandy Yelp app comes to the rescue again!!! Loved this place. It looks as though it were an old OLD bank building. we sat in the back and I saw an old vault door. Soooo cool. Waitress was extremely friendly and helped Hubs pick out a beer. Tasty. Ordered the blackbean burger and it was good. Weird in texture but still good. Whatever you do..order the smokehouse burger. THAT was a good burger. Hubs didn't talk for a good 10 min as he chowed down and almost bit off a finger. I was able to pry it from his hands to get a bite. I see why he turned into a caveman....lol! Good job Alewife!
(4)
Cherpumple F.
You need a drink? As in beer? This is the place for you with their giant list of draft beers. Tis a no frou frou, next door to the Hippodrome place great for some pre- or post-show drinkles. Food is okay--I still can't taste the duck fat in their duck fat fries. Maybe it was a duck on a diet.
(3)
DjPhaze S.
Great hangout. Neighborhood pub feel. The trivia was fun! The staff is quite friendly, charming and entertaining. Very nice bar with and ample selection of liquors to craft cocktails. We had appetizers that were pretty decent. I'd go back to try the dinner menu soon since it's conveniently close to Everyman's Theater and the Hippodrome.
(3)
Matthew J.
The food is either good or great. The prices are a little high though. Nice atmosphere and good service.
(4)
Meredith J.
I'll let you read previous posts about the burgers, but they really are delicious! So, I'll focus on the bar. The area where Alewife is located isn't too bad but if you are planning on leaving and walking to bars, have a few in mind. I really like how the bar and restaurant is set-up. It's very open and there is more space then you'd expect. The beer selection is really good and reasonably priced. Also, it never seems to be too crowded, so getting a beer isn't a huge problem.
(5)
Kelly G.
This place is a great find in an area that is seriously lacking in nice restaurants. It's sometimes difficult to navigate whether you need to wait for a hostess to seat you or seat yourself - I always end up just seating myself on the first floor. The beer selection is wonderful, very extensive and something for everyone and the food is pretty good as well (the fish tacos were good, but very very messy!) It gets very crowded during games with only a few flat screens near the bar area.
(4)
Sam N.
Tons of drafts being offered, duck fat fries, cool takes on burgers, did I mentioned duck fat fries?!?! The decor isn't something to write home about, but the large beer selections and the crowds it attracts can be exciting when the Orioles are playing!
(4)
Priscilla A.
Doesnt look like a restaurant stop. Looks like a church... none the less the host was very friendly and the waitress was great. I order the chicken sandwich and the soup of the day * Potato Soup. Delicious!! -Fries had a great taste. Hint of smokiness to them if that even makes sense. The theme was great. It was a dim atmosphere with concentration on beer. Good hangout spot and just a place to relax a let loose.
(4)
Ruth C.
3 star grub sampling, 4 star bar; reminds me of a mini-Brickskeller. $10 credit card minimum is easy to break. Managed to find street parking right outside. Pretty space that has an interesting mix of industrial chic and Prohibition-hijacked church. Our fellow bar patrons were riveted to the soccer match on-screen, and a few white-collar drones chatted over a power lunch by the door. Thanks to Joey for being such a patient and friendly bartender as Mike and I pored over the menus. Good selection of Allagash and Dogfish brews, with a healthy dash of Flying Dog, Stone, Troegs, Victory, and Heavy Seas. I finally settled on an Allagash Black for lack of a Justin C in my pocket. As tempting as the The Baltimore cocktail looked, it sadly felt a bit early in the day for me to be knocking back anything with gin in it. Unfortunately, most of the menu that I had ogled in passing turned out to be for dinner only. Sorry Snorlax, no seared crab cakes, chorizo mussels, smoked tomato & goat cheese flan, blue catfish tacos, airliner chicken breast, or grilled skirt steak. Not even a side of tempura fennel frites to be had at midday. So we split an Alewife salad and each got a smoke burger. Salad was chock full of goodies, dressed just enough to keep the blue cheese from dominating. Burgers were cooked to order with juicy, flavorful patties. I forwent the steak knife and let the delicious grease drip down my arm. Bacon was reasonably crisp, and the gouda and gruyere played nicely with the cipollinis. We did a side-by-side comparison of the kettle chips versus the herbed duck fat fries, and for overall balance the chips won. I was ambivalent about the chipotle aioli. The fries were certainly tasty, but added impending food coma to an already heavy dish. I'm glad I boxed up my leftovers because it made for great drunk food later that night. I'll be back for dinner.
(4)
Emily P.
I like their smoke burger, but it wasn't out of this world for me as it was for many others who have commented about it on yelp. However, I LOVE their Blue Catfish Tacos, duck fat fries with aioli, and some of their recently added items to menu: duck confit poutine and truffled mac&cheese (you MUST try these new items!). I would come back time and time again for these dishes. Many of their desserts are delicious as well. I've tried their thai peanut wings, Kobe Beef Hot Dog, cubano, smoked tomato soup and pressed cuban bread...all of which were okay. I would probably end up not ordering these items again.
(4)
Tony P.
A solidly average gastropub. I stopped here on an early evening so there was no crowd at all. The service was attentive at the bar. The beer list has a good assortment of craft brews and belgians. I settled on two selections from Stone. Their Levitation and Smoke Porter. The buffalo soup with blue cheese crumble and crostini was interesting and flavorful. It had the flavor characteristics of buffalo wings; spicy, tangy, savory. The signature smoke burger was ordinary and over cooked. I asked for medium rare and received well-done. The smoky flavor was there, but it was hard to discern the gouda or gruyere cheeses or even the applewood bacon. My duck fat fries were crispy but bland. No herbal flavors, no savory indications. Overall, a decent spot for a local happy hour gathering if you're nearby.
(3)
Candace M.
Atmosphere check. Beer selection check. Food check. VEGAN food options at a pub? Done and done. I went on yelp to find a place that was near the convention center that had good food and a good vibe and ended up here. We got two seats at the bar, loved the menu and everything about this place, esp the beer selection, whiskey selection, and diversity of menu items. It's not often you can feed the vegan and the carnivore together at the pub. The bartender made a small mistake in my order but made up for it by giving me a discount- I was pretty happy with accidentally getting the vegan ragout instead of quinoa tabbouleh anyways! Avoid the hop Betty cocktail, I thought it would be cool but you would be better off with a greyhound instead.
(5)
Kristina R.
Went here before a show at the Hippodrome. You definitely want to make reservations if there is a show that night. It is one of the only nicer restaurants within walking distance of the Hippodrome. I had the smoke burger and it was fabulous. It was HUGE! There was a very good selection of draught beers and also a decent wine list. I would definitely go there for dinner if seeing a show again at the Hippodrome.
(4)
Frances L.
My first night in Baltimore was spent catching up with an old friend. Since we were staying near Mt. Vernon, we decided to walk over to Alewife, which was only a few blocks away. It was about 10p.m and the man at the front desk of our hotel had warned us that it wasn't really safe for two ladies to walk around in this area, but being stubborn gals from LA, we felt like we were tough enough for the job. And we were! While there were a few shady characters on the way to this gastropub, once we walked inside, it was bustling and lively! This beautiful building with super high ceilings was decked out in tons of dark reclaimed woods and really played off of using the space's original architecture. Much larger than I had anticipated, Alewife not only felt cozy, but it also had a good neighborhood vibe. I was impressed with their extensive tap and bottle selections. Craft beer heaven reaching from one end of the country to the other. Seeing as though we don't really see many Dogfish Head beers on tap in California, I opted for the My Antonia which was a great choice to go with my delicious Cubano sandwich. Tender pork belly, ham, and cheese toasted perfectly and served with a bed of spinach greens. A nice little late-night bite, at good prices, too. Service was friendly and overall, I enjoyed this place thoroughly. I'll definitely be back to try their smoke burger whenever I am in Baltimore next.
(4)
Sean O.
Vegan? Kosher? Gluten free? This place is good for none of those! Their burgers are AMAZING! Also, you need to get the beer sampler trays, especially if you want to loosen up while there. They don't serve any mainstream beers here so loosen up and have a hearty beer for once you wuss.
(4)
Joseph L.
Not a big fan. Just didn't live up to the expectations. The menu was very simple and very much over priced. The building was cool but too bad the food wasn't. We actually only eat half of what we order and went somewhere else to finish dinner. If you like to spend a lot money on half assed meals then this is the place for you.
(2)
Matt R.
I'm always a fan of Alewife's food. I've introduced many a friend to this establishment for the sole purpose of trying their premier dish, the Smoke Burger. Paired with duck fat fries, the food's hard to beat for Baltimore's city center. The cocktails are always creative and the draft list is an impressive, mammoth chalkboard scaling the wall. Now if it were only a few bucks cheaper... The place has a great ambiance and a good "dark" feel. Definitely a good investment on a historical property. Beware nights where the Hippodrome or Everyman are having a large showing. Sometimes Alewife just can't support non-reservation folks or discourages people with hour-plus long waits. Plan your evenings wisely and you won't be disappointed. I do wish Alewife would make better use of its upstairs seating during rushes. They just don't use it frequently enough to accommodate the crowds. The one thing that kills this place from being five stars in my book is the inconsistent service. Some nights it's amazing and some nights it's horrific. On great nights, the staff is upbeat, the food is cooked to perfection, and you leave with a smile on your face. On the bad nights, your food will be either undercooked (and raw) or burned, the staff inattentive, the drinks slow or just plain wrong, and the check forever-waiting in making its appearance. This seems to happen more when it's slow, which I find really puzzling.
(4)
Marshall L.
Alewife has quickly become one of Baltimore's finest upscale bar offerings for a number of reasons. 1. The space is fantastic. They turned what used to be a bank into one of the most unique restaurants in town. Deep rich colors, high ceilings, and some of the original bank architecture all make for a fantastic atmosphere. 2. Great regular menu plus the occasional theme night. The smoke burger is worth all of the hype, but make sure to branch out no matter how much it's taunting you. The fish and chips are stellar, the salads are too. But don't get the black bean burger...all you're getting there is a mound of mushy black beans shaped into a patty (I had it today and never will again). I also really enjoy the occasional specialty menus they put together from time to time. They've done special nights with a snakehead fish theme, and they're doing a special wild game menu, with each course paired with a different New Belgium Lips of Faith beer. It's great to see a place so forward thinking with their menu. 3. A huge draught beer list. They really do cover all the bases here. Any type of lager or ale you can think of, priced to fit any budget, and anywhere from 4% to the mid teens ABV-wise. Alewife is going to have a long and storied history with Baltimore. It's going to be the kind of place that you always want to take out of town guests, and it's already established a stellar reputation in just a few short years.
(4)
Trevor B.
Had a really good experience on my second time around here, which helped to partially offset the ill effects from my lackluster first attempt. I tried the smoke burger and, for the most part, it lived up to the hype. At 11 oz., this thing is pretty massive and the smoked bacon is delicious. Duck fat fries were crispy and doused in seasoning (rosemary, etc.), which was a plus for me. The burger's a bit pricey at $15 ($12 at lunch), but you definitely won't leave hungry (unless you're used to eating unhealthy amounts of food all the time...). What really did it for me this time around was the great service. Our waitress was patient and more than willing to answer questions about the food & drink items. When she brought out the wrong beer in one round, she left it for us to try anyway. It's all about the little things...
(4)
Anna K.
My husband and I were out grocery shopping when he exclaimed, "I want a burger, somewhere I haven't been before." We rattled our brains and came up with Alewife. We'd heard positive things and hadn't tried it out yet. Sunday lunch? Perfect excuse. The place was largely empty (an O's game was going on and we were in for a late lunch) which was fine with me - I can see why some reviewers say this place gets loud with its high ceilings and very open space. There were four of us and we each got a flight (IPA, Belgian, Bar Choice, Local). The Bar choice flight was fun and I thoroughly enjoyed 3 of the 4 pours - all of which were unique to me. I wouldn't recommend the IPA or Belgian flight if you're looking for diverse flavors. For lunch we ordered: Smoke Burger (with duckfat fries A+) A+++ Beef Hot Dog - A/A+ Fish and Chips - A The Smoke burger and fries were the clear winner. This is a well thought out burger with great flavors. I'd recommend getting it Medium Rare if you roll that way. This place can definitely run you a little bit of money so be prepared for that. However, Alewife has got a great atmosphere, delicious food, and a varied beer selection. I highly recommend it.
(4)
Paul S.
Great selection of beers as some have suggested? They don't even have Guiness. Order the mussels and you'll get a bowl of french fries with a couple of lame mussels on the bottom and lots of grease. The disappointments just keep coming. The most laughable part is there was a line to get in.
(1)
Devonshire B.
Excellent and knowledgeable staff, amazing food (burger had a beautiful smokey flavour), great atmosphere, big big big area, HUGE selection of alcohol!, and decently priced. Why in the world would you NOT want to try this place out?
(4)
Joseph C.
My fiancee' took me to Alewife and I was in heaven. The beer selection is quite impressive & the bartenders were quite knowledgable and able to make suggestions.
(4)
David W.
Good food, but service seems to be an afterthought (or they are understaffed). There should be no reason at 6:00 on a Saturday afternoon to have to wait for anything. The thai wings were decent, but the brussel sprouts needed more seasoning. My fish tacos were good. The beer list is a bit overwhelming, but since the waiter was doing something else, I had time to pick something, and I enjoyed my pick. Might go back, it is too convenient to the Hippodrome to ignore it completely.
(3)
Demetrios G.
I went here before the Poe seance event a couple months ago. The beer and location were great. There's an old bank vault in the back so make sure you go to the bathroom. The food was decent but nothing to write home about. I had the smoke burger which had a good taste but somehow left me unsatisfied. Maybe I'm just to used to the smashburger I make on the cast iron at home. That being said the tap list will keep me coming back and I will give the food another try.
(3)
Jo D.
Delicious food and great atmosphere! i went before a performance at Everyman Theatre and really enjoyed one of the burgers! Lots of beers and people of all ages and styles. Only downside is that it is a bit loud-it is in interesting, older building so the acoustics are not great.
(5)
Christopher D.
This place was AWESOME. The atmosphere was relaxed, they had the Ravens game on all the TVs, and there was plenty of seating. Both of our servers were friendly and helpful. They knew about the food and beers and were ready with suggestions. Speaking of, FREE BEER. Well, samples. There's something around forty beers on tap alone and they're all craft beers snobs like me would love, but they are happy to bring you a sample first so you know what you're getting if you're not sure which I absolutely love. I ended up with a Bear Republic Racer X which I'd never heard of and now love because of this place. The food was divine and made even better by almost all of it having a nice, deep smoky flavor. I had the smoke burger which used REAL bacon fried there, gouda and gruyere cheese, chipotle aiole and caramelized onions. It came out massive and was savory and smoky to the last bite. It came with a side of duck fat fries with a nice coating of salt and pepper that were the perfect balance between crispy and soft. My wife, the vegetarian, had an excellent selection of meal options. Chile relleno, black bean burger, truffle mac and cheese, and a couple more. She went with the grilled cheese and tomato soup and loved it. The soup had its own smoky flavor and the cheese was thoroughly melted and came off in strings. Not being a big fan of beer she had their root beer cocktail with house made root beer liqueur that tasted just like a root beer float with a nice bite at the end. We absolutely plan to return and highly recommend anyone looking for a great meal do as well. There is something here for everyone and as far as I can tell it's all delicious.
(5)
Scott C.
Ok, look, start at the review I did before and then read this thing. The team at Alewife is fun, unpretentious and really always aims to bring their best. Consistently becoming more and more busy, even without the crowd from the Hippodrome, it is proving to be the place to be on the west side of downtown. The menu has evolved a lot, with lots of changes coming for spring, and the beer selection is always wonderful. They'll pour a mean serving of Absinthe too. A hidden gem I just had last night on the menu was the Fennel Frites. Think tastier onion rings with a really tasty aioli. And they still make the best cream of crab soup ever. The mug club has heated up, with some of us just waiting on some Cantillon to show up to complete the quest. Why these guys will only brew 21 days a year makes me sad. Make friends with the staff, they are all great people and are really part of why the place is becoming such a success. It really is nice to see them putting Erik Maza in his place after his craptacular antics on the Midnight Sun Blog. Expect them to be around for a while. Pro-Tip: Make sure you know the Hippodrome schedule and call ahead for reservations. During the pre-show rush the bar area only gets a limited menu, so you'll need a table if you want all the goodness. Pro-Tip #2: If you are there on a busy night and need help navigating the beer menu, look for one of the beer geek regulars. We all love to talk about beers and are more than willing to take some burden off the bartenders (this gets everyone served faster because they don't have to walk you through the menu).
(5)
Seth B.
I really wanted to love this place, based on the excellent beer selection and ambience of the building (Is this maybe an old bank building?) At the end, I liked it and will return but was not blown away. We arrived around 7 PM on a Saturday. The hostess was welcoming and found us a table within 10 minutes without a reservation. This place gets a big pre-theater crowd as it's across the street from the Hippodrome so keep that in mind when you go. The service was friendly but slow. Our server seemed to disappear for chunks of time and I needed to flag him down a few times. The draft beer selection is solid and the bottle list is one of the most impressive I've seen. They constantly rotate their bottles and have a number of rarities at any one time. The biggest letdown for me was the food. I ordered the gumbo ($18) and was unimpressed. For the price it wasn't what I was hoping for. My dining partner, however, loved her burger and duck fat fries so maybe I ordered the wrong thing. Anyway, I will return, but perhaps not on a Saturday evening and I will order something else to eat.
(3)
Jannelle A.
Occasion: Casual dinner with a friend What I had: Smokehouse burger, fries, and a few house brews Food Review: The smokehouse burger was ridiculously delicious! Interesting pairing of ingredients and flavors, but admittedly it was on the greasy side. It will definitely satisfy your carb/fat intake for a few days, but you'll be too busy devouring your smokehouse to think about that until it's too late... The fries were also delicious, but they came out warm and were cold within 5 minutes. The beer selection is good. Service Review: It was decent. I went for dinner on a Thursday night @7pm, and the place was packed. We elected to sit at the bar because we didn't have time to wait the estimated 40 mins for another table to open up. The time in which the food came out was acceptable, however, I had to flag down the bartender a few times to get her attention. Venue Review: The interior of this building is unique, but the neighborhood can be pretty dicey at night. Be careful. Close proximity to Lexington Market. (If you're from Bmore, you know to stay away at night...) Take-Home Point: The burger is glorious, but the price point is a bit high for what you get. I've been to much fancier restaurants, no less in cities like LA and NYC, that offer similar burgers for less $$.
(3)
Valarie G.
I came here for a beer dinner before the hurricane. I enjoyed the atmosphere greatly and the service was friendly. It is a great location. I must come back and try it out when it is not a special event, but I was very impressed.
(4)
Dave F.
Eaten (and drank) here numerous times. Nice beer selection, and the lunch selections are really good. Loved the hot dog, and the duck fat fries were good too.
(5)
Johnny Q.
Cool looking old school type place. Used to be an old bank that was made into a speak easy. Over 40 beer selections on tap to choose from. Drinks were strong and made very professionally. Had the Potomac Catfish Tacos which did the trick. Not too filling though but tasty. I would recommend the Smokehouse Burger if you want a heavier meal. Not in the best of neighborhoods so it gets pretty sketchy around there but I guess thats just Baltimore
(5)
Amy W.
**Update again** Went back on another outing...definitely try the Brussel sprout appetizer!!! Delicious... Been at least 5 times now And while the first time I would have given them 4 stars, the last 2 times, I have been inclined to give them lower ratings. Here's my overall impression: The beer selection is outstanding. And for the most part, their staff is highly knowledgeable about the beer - which if you are going to have that many draft beers, you better be able to answer questions and offer tastings - which they can and do. So if you want a nice spot to try some interesting beer, then this is a great place for that. The first time we went, the couple we went with had hyped up the burger so much that I didn't even look at the menu - I just ordered the Smoke Burger. Which was very good - the apple-wood smoke bacon gives it a really nice flavor. And the blend of Gouda and Gruyere cheeses are very good also. The beef itself makes a very good burger. Overall a very good burger (certainly not the BEST burger in town - but a solid A-). And the duck fat fries are some of the best in town (Salt has some of THE best - but these are a pretty close 2nd.) They took the quesadilla off the menu because peaches are out of season - why not offer a fall/winter version with some other option? Curious. I was looking forward to trying them. Their Alewife salad is delicious. A lot of really great flavor. I tried it with the grilled chicken (which was grilled chicken - meh). But the salad itself was very good. The asparagus was a nice touch and different addition to this type of salad. I didn't want anything heavy since we were going to theatre. The dressing was nice. So here is my one HUGE GRIPE: no dessert? COME ON??? I don't care if the chef doesn't "DO" desserts. Pick up the phone and outsource dude! There are a ton of great local places that you could get desserts from. No offense but that the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me after my last outing there. And the fact that you put a hot chocolate on your menu and thought you could pass it off as dessert just infuriated me more because you don't offer a non-alcoholic version and I couldn't have alcohol! COME ON!!!!!! You offer some pretty cool things on your menu, offering a cool cookie plate, some interesting donuts with a chocolate pudding or a creme brulee would not be a stretch! I was really disappointed because I wanted to cap my meal off with something sweet and couldn't. So I'll stop griping about it, but I doubt I will go back until they fix this. I enjoy dessert when I go out to eat, and this truly bugs me. Lastly, the staff on all three outings has been awesome. Every time we have always had very attentive staff - always offering samples, and the food has always come in a fairly reasonable timeframe in my opinion. Good pace to the meal. Enjoy!
(4)
Chris K.
Would have given a 4 but the staff had no energy. Not ridiculous slow but slower than what I'm use to. Food was really good, I recommend the grilled cheese and tomato soup. BTW I went on a Sunday maybe that had something to do with it.
(3)
Rick B.
Great foodie food, awesome beers for aficionado's, and hip atmosphere.
(4)
Amanda H.
This is a great place to eat before the theater, just make sure and make reservations. The atmosphere was fun and the staff very friendly and efficient. The food was great! I had the fried chicken and my husband had the burger and we were both very happy with our choices..
(4)
Anneke M.
Great atmosphere, in an old converted bank building near the Hippodrome. Red painted walls give the place a bold but comfortable vibe. Two huge blackboards house the place's ever-changing beer list, with something for pretty much any beer palate. The bartenders are all very knowledgeable and were totally willing to spend a minute or two helping me choose, even when they were a little bit busy. If you are planning on getting dinner (and you aren't going to the Hippodrome after), waiting until 8 means a much calmer dining room and more attention from the staff . If you don't mind the noise level that comes with a packed house, then of course go before 8. I've eaten there on two separate occasions. The first time, I had the smoke burger and the duck fat fries. Both were fantastic. The burger took a little while to come out, but they warn you of that in the menu so I can't complain about that. The second time I went, I had the smoked tomato soup and the fennel frites. The soup was fantastic, the perfect mix of smoky richness mixed with the tangy tomato. The fennel frites I wasn't as crazy about, they had an odd texture that didn't jive well with me. My friends had the airliner chicken plate which they raved about, and the alewife salad which got good reviews.
(4)
Erin C.
Love the interior--cool historical reuse. Good beer list! Are you vegetarian? Look! Awesome! There are things on the menu for you! Unfortunately, they don't taste that great. Serviceable, sure. But otherwise, no reason to come back unless you're just in the mood for some beer. (We got the Tomato Soup/Grilled Cheese and Black Bean Burger before seeing a show at The Hippodrome).
(2)
Chris S.
If you come to the Inner Harbor, this is a must stop. Great food and beer. It's a good stop before and after the O's games since its a block away from Camden Yards.
(5)
Kara W.
Made a last minute reservation via OpenTable for 8:15pm on a Friday night. Though, I don't really understand the point of making a reservation to sit in an area which could easily be considered the bar- very noisy and cramped. The distinction between bar and restaurant can become muddled so easily. But, I've read so many reviews about the burgers here that I had to get one,so I pressed on. Plus, 95% of the diners were enjoying burgers, so things looked promising. Boy, am I glad that I did (sort of). It was well-seasoned and very succulent. The menu description reads: "an 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, served with Duck Fat Fries." And, that's pretty accurate. The fries are shoestring-style so they get cold quickly. But, I was so engrossed with my burger that it didn't bother me. I washed it down with a glass of Allagash White- ordered at the recommendation of our server because they were our of Zombie Killer. I was not disappointed. The lightness and crispiness of the beer complemented the burger well. It took all of my strength to eat only half the burger in an attempt to save room for dessert (and maybe another beer). So, you can imagine my dismay when the server slapped the check down on the table without offering either. Good to know that someone is watching my waistline when I obviously am not.
(3)
C D.
This place has good beer. The food was slightly above average. The service sucked!
(2)
Ali P.
Landed here on my first night in Baltimore after a quick search for a place with a fantastic draught beer selection, a better than average late night menu, and a TV with the finals on. I'm pleasantly surprised to report that I found exactly that, and more.... I walk in, The Black Keys are playing in the background, the game is on, and I find a wall of beers on tap, including some local favorites of mine from home. Lagunitas, Stone, Green Flash, you name it, all of California's best craft beer made an appearance on their menu. However, opting for something I didn't see regularly at home, I ordered a Victory IPA and was pleased. The late night menu really reminded me of beer bars in the city (SF) and had a great selection of gastronomical delights. I ended up ordering from the Late Night menu the Tempura Fennel Frites and the Smoked Tomato Soup. Both were fantastic and WAY more than I could have asked for at 11:30pm on a Tuesday night. Funny, the user below said her drive to this place reminded her of Oakland, and those were my thoughts exactly. Except I WALKED... therefore feeling a bit sketched out for the walk home. Luckily, and completely unexpectedly the bartender and bar back where the sweetest people ever and felt my palpable sketched-outness. The bar back drove me home and I could not have been more thankful. From an ambiance, customer service, food, and libations standpoint, I would highly recommend this spot to locals and visitors alike.
(5)
Mike L.
When you approach Alewife, you really don't know what to expect. It's close to Camden Yards, so it's exceedingly convenient if you're looking for a place to slam a few beers after an O's game, not much of a walk at all. Finally approaching the joint, it almost doesn't seem like a restaurant that serves as many beers as it does. The appearance itself from the outside makes me immediately think of a lounge type of environment, that all changes once you go inside. Once you enter Alewife, you go up some steps and seat yourself. At that point, you help yourself to a menu or ask for one and peruse their catalog of extensive beer. Aside from the fairly enormous beer selection (Monterey Area residents reading this review, think of a less contemporary CRBC), I had heard that they had amazing food, of course I had to try it. I ended up ordering their famous Smoke Burger (which wasn't worth $15 but whatever) with Duck Fat Fries (amazing) and a glass of Allegash Blonde, which initially excited me because the only Allegash Beer I ever had was Allegash White, which is already scarce enough as it is. They also had a stout version of this called Allegash Black which looked just as intriguing. If you're a beer connosieur, definitely give Alewife a chance. Coming from the West Coast, it blew my mind to see beers that I have only heard about all at my disposal. I'm going to have a good ol' time the next time I'm in Baltimore!
(4)
Oscar S.
Food was good, the place is pretty cool the service is awful. There seemed to be one waitress for the entire place.
(2)
Jessica D.
Great food and beer choices. Had the popular burger. Tasty and filling. Enjoyed the atmosphere. It was a Friday night and they were busy due to a show. Dining room was packed and there was two spaces left at the bar. We grabbed it and then bar was packed too. Standing room only. Perfect timing for us to be able to sit and eat. Great start to our stay in Baltimore.
(4)
Maria L.
This was my first trip to Ale Wife and I was enthusiastic to go because I heard good stuff about their fish tacos. The place definitely has a unique look to it: there is large abstract art all over the walls, a giant wall dedicated to a chalk-written list of beers they have, there is a wall-length window which has outer shutters that open to allow a full view out onto the street, the tables are a nice dark wood, the water is served in glass jars, and the coolest part is a second floor balcony with two tables that overlooks the main dining area. The real issue came with the service and the food. Our waitress, a tall blonde named Alicia, was lifeless and bordering rude in her disinterest with our party. We ordered when there were only three tables seated and while our appetizer came out in decent time, we waited 42 minutes for fish tacos (fish..not steak or big ole' burgers). When they did come out they were cold; in a neutral tone I told her they were cold and she thought the best reply was "well the fish doesn't normally come out piping hot". Well. She told her manager on her own accord and they did remove one order of it. I decided I'd take the 2 of 3 home and pop them in the oven later, and they do have these neat black-carton to-go boxes. I wouldn't go back here to eat. The bar?--maybe.
(2)
Mike M.
Burger was excellent. Fish tacos were good but served a little cold. Great beer selection but not the cheapest place.
(4)
Melissa R.
DISCLAIMER: This review is coming from a preggo who could not enjoy their main attraction (BEER!) and is purely based on the food. Came her twice on my recent trip to Baltimore. First time around I had the tomato soup with grilled cheese. The grilled cheese was a little smaller than expected, but otherwise the meal was solid. Nothing to elaborate on. The big suprise was that they had ginger beer, huge kudos! Second time was for carryout. Their carryout containers were bigger than the bag to carry them in, so they were put in sideways. The crabcakes did not survive the trip back to the hotel. Likely they would have been much better if I ate them @ Alewife. Can't recommend this place on food alone, but the atosphere was chill and their beer selection was superb (accompanied by a very knowledgeable bartender.). Will have to give this place a 2nd try once I pop.
(3)
Colleen R.
It is a great place to go if you enjoy beer. The menu, however is extremely limited (it IS a pub), unremarkable and very expensive. My companions loved the huge burgers. My fish tacos were cold and drippy. The pub used to be a bank in an early life. The atmosphere is loud and boisterous but we were lucky to be placed in an old vault. We we extremely disappointed to learn that not only do they not recognize birthdays (we were celebrating two) but they charge $25 if you bring in your own birthday cake. We spent close to $200 for five people and had to go elsewhere to enjoy our cake.
(2)
Molly S.
My roommate and I were searching for a specific kind of beer, and our search led us to finding Lucy's Irish Pub, which is the bar that used to occupy the stunning old bank building that is now Alewife. It is located conveniently near the Lexington Market Light Rail stop, and within a few blocks of a Metro stop, which means that even if you don't have a car, you can easily access this amazing spot. The building from the outside is stunning; its pristine white exterior sets it apart from the other buildings on the block, so we had no trouble at all finding it. The interior doesn't disappoint, either; the walls are a warm burgundy and all the wood, on the tables and bar, is rich and dark. The high ceiling is reminiscent of the building's original origins, paneled with the same dark wood that composes the rest of the building's trimmings. The list of 40 beers on draft is mindblowing; the selection is truly amazing. You truly would have to be a boring human being to come here and order a Bud Light or a Natty Boh. In addition to being an amazing assortment of delicious craft beers, the list is updated every few days, so it will never be quite the same. The cocktail and wine lists are also extremely impressive; I will definitely be sampling from them next time I come back (which might be as soon as tonight). The bartenders were friendly and extremely helpful, and the music playing was the perfect playlist for some late night beers with good friends. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys delicious beer, great service and good music in a friendly, intimate atmosphere.
(5)
Erin L.
I have to amend my previous review and knock Alewife down a few notches with regard to customer service. I arrived to Alewife at 430 on a Friday requesting a table of 3 for myself, my brother and SIL. I was declined. The hostess informed me that they were completely booked. I looked around the empty dining room, finding it hard to believe that they didn't have room for just three more people. She claimed there was a private party coming in, and since there was a show at the theater, they couldn't take anyone else. Since I was the only person waiting in the front, I politely asked her to please just check and see if there was any way she could make an exception. It really seemed absurd to be turned away from a place that wasn't even crowded. The hostess huffed and puffed at the podium for a minute or two before saying that there was absolutely no way. I find it hard to believe that there was no room to squeeze a measly three top in. She even chastised me for not having reservations. I didn't think I needed a reso at 430 in the afternoon, and by the emptiness of the restaurant, you'd think the servers might have wanted the extra money. Clearly Alewife doesn't need the extra money, since they were so quick to turn away paying customers and refer us to Frank & Nic's, down the street. (For the record, F&N was amazing alternative.) When I worked in the restaurant biz, customers were everything, and unless the dining room was full, we could always find someone willing to wait on an extra 3-top. Or, they should have put a sign up that said "Closed for Private Party." Just saying..... Alewife, get off your high horse. Your food is good, but arrogance can really ruin a good thing. I live just down the street, but I will not be returning. I'd rather patronize places who want my business.
(2)
Diana H.
They have a great beer menu and make a pretty stiff cocktail, for this alone I would have given it four stars. But unfortunately we had a lot of problems at Alewife. First the bartender kept trying to rip us off, we ordered their smokey burger since everyone raves about it and we order just the burger no fries etc. The plate comes with fries, we do not notice, we eat the burger it was cooked medium well when we asked for medium rare however we let it go because we did not have time to return it and ask for a properly cooked burger. The bill comes. A.) We were not charged happy hour prices and when I brought it up to her she is like, oh right I forgot it was happy hour (Yeah right) B.) She charges us with the fries we did not order nor eat and not only did she charge us for the fries but for the fries fried in duck fat. ... and I really believe it was intentional, so everyone double check your bills.
(1)
Sean H.
AAAAwwwwwwww yyyyeeaaahh!!! Beer, beer everywhere! And the food is boss. Atop it all the atmosphere is just tops and the service, though at times busy, is great. My dinner party and I slackjawed it up with what seemed to be a revolving three waitresses that took turns serving us and it was super cool (two of the three were cute, one was super cute). They were setting up for karaoke too just as we finished our meals. This place oozes fun, relaxed, and enjoyable and I need to make a concerted effort to go here more often. The chow: Smoke burger = delicious and well liked by many. Kobe beef hot dog = delicious but I wanted more. Cubano = a decent cubano with an interesting twist. Try it if you're a cubano fan. Truffled mac & cheese = there is a lot to be desired with this appetizer. The flavor is neutral and unappealing and in my opinion not worth the price. The chocolate cake thing = pure junk. I can't remember exactly what it was called but when I think chocolate cake I think a big piece of cake, not a small muffin sized piece of dense dark chocolate. It tasted bland too....just didn't like it. Notes: Good for groups, excellent bar, I once drank 12 lemonades here and tweeked out for about four hours before sleeping like a baby thumb in mouth.
(4)
Charity D.
Good food--the smoke burger is amazing! I love the variety of beer they have too! Always a good meal at Alewife.
(4)
Rich C.
What a Find!!! My wife and I had tickets to the O's game and there was a rain delay. Instead of being stuck in the yard, like a caged bird (no pun intened), we opted to head north from the parking garage on Eutaw. This place was the first place we came accros that looked inviting. The huge glass window on the front is very cool. I am a big beer guy so this place is heaven for beer folk. The selection is huge with a ton of belgian beers. Don't come looking for any kind of comercialized beers, including the big name imports, cause you won't find that here. You can get all the swill like that you want, at the yard, for about the same price. The food is equally impressive. My wife had the smoke burger and loved it. I had the chicken and it was quite possibly the best chiecken I have had in a long time. Not cheap, but well worth the extra $$$. The place is slightly upscale yet comfortible and the quality of the food and beer makes it a solid home run. Sorry couldn't help myself with that one. The staff and owner are really nice too!
(5)
Orin W.
Terrible experience!!! Went for a pre theater burger and made a reservation 24 hours in advance. We waited 15 minutes standing in the outside stairwell before getting seated. THEN the real annoying problems began. I ordered the Great Gatsby (some vodka drink) and when it arrived I swear it tasted like cough syrup. My wife liked it but it really wasn't for me. I kindly asked if I could switch it out for a pint of beer and the waiter said that's against their policy. Now my wife and I eat out a LOT. In New York, DC and all over the world. Never heard of this policy. Ok, my wife said, if it's a problem with the manager just have him come over. When I explained to the manager that I just didn't care for the drink he responded with "well you shouldn't order our drinks because you clearly don't like what we make." Whatever. The review is already too long but the drink sucked, the food sucked and the service sucked. There is a panera bread around the corner...go there.
(1)
Tony S.
3.5 toward a 4! Came in last Saturday for lunch, not busy. Strolled up to the bar and asked for their beer menu. The bartender pointed out what they had on tap then smirked and pointed out the HUGE chalkboard of beers they had... Dazed and in a time pinch...i just asked for something hoppy, like an IPA. Before he could say, "Stone" I said, "YES!" So as for lunch, the menu is rather abbreviated. I really wanted to try the other things people mentioned in earlier reviews, but, alas, that's only on the dinner menu. NONETHELESS, WHO NEEDS A FULL MENU WHEN YOU HAVE THE SMOKED BURGER!!! Since everyone was raving on and on about it, I figured I'd give it a stab.... When I saw the asterisk next to the item on the menu saying that it takes a while to cook, I thought, "Oh this better be worth it..." 25 mins and an appetizer later out came this burger with a freaking KNIFE in it! On looks alone, I was sold. :) THen I bit into it and OMG the meat is well seasoned and tender and juicy...god, I'm salivating and it's 8:30 in the morning...SO DELICIOUS. A FAN of this burger. Friendly crowd, attentive bartender, chill place for lunch. Good beer selection, funky decor. Can't vouch for much else.
(3)
Ryan S.
Been there twice, cant comment on the food other than the smoked burger is awesome. Not the end-all be-all of burgers but a tasty respectable one non-the-less. The beer selection is awesome. The name is Alewife so if they didnt have an awesome beer selection this wouldve been a 1 star review. Service was adequate but nothing really stood out. Think I remember having to flag down the waitress for a soda refill. How a restaurant handles drink refills is usually a good indicator of how attentive the wait staff is.
(4)
JK H.
This place is great except no fracking happy hour. How can you have all these great beers and no happy hour?!
(3)
Marc H.
Best bar in the inner harbor. You won't find better craft beer variety in this area. I'm also a scotch lover and their selection was ample. Met the owners and they were good people along with the bar staff. Food was great, it was really what brought me back for a second tasting, the smoke burger was great and the second night I had the pork chop. The second night I got to try a lot more great samplings of their vast selection. Reminded me of Three Floyd's in Indiana withought the fruity flavors.
(5)
Lina B.
GREAT beer selection with rotating draught menu that you can find illustrated on the chalkboard (or in the menu). They have a beer club, but it's pretty impossible to drink that many beers in the timeframe of one year. Smokeburger, although it DOES take a long time to come out of the kitchen, is definitely worth it. I also have tried the truffle mac and cheese, cuban sandwich, tomato soup with cheese croutons. All of these choices are definitely yummy. My roommate got the fish tacos once and wasn't very impressed. The duck fat fries are a staple and you should always order them. The aioli on the side is what makes the perfect combination. I also know my friends ordered the fennel frites and loved them, but I did not have room to try one at the time.
(4)
Marie T.
i liked this place! incredibly casual, although i'd choose a different entree next time as i was a bit of a newbie and didn't realize the crab was "market price". yikes, expensive just for a crab cake on my salad. but good all the same.
(3)
Christy F.
The location is extremely convenient if you are going to a show at the Hippodrome, as it's basically across the street. We went to Alewife to get a quick bite before a show. We got there on what I thought was the early side for dinner - 6 pm - and we were told all the tables were reserved, so we had to sit in the bar area and that was acceptable. We ordered drinks - I had the vanilla porter which was a comfortable warming brew and not too heavy -- but when it came to ordering food, we ended up leaving. Why, you ask? I ordered the short rib and they were already sold out of it! Their menu is not that extensive and while sitting at the bar, we saw most of the entrees passed out to other diners. The Cubano looked like all bread and no meat and the duck fat fries looked absolutely sodden with heavy gravy. My date ordered the Smoke Burger, but he hates cheese and when he ordered it without cheese, he was told that the cheese is actually mixed in with the ground beef, so a cheese-less burger is not possible there. Counting that as our third strike, we left and sought other options on Pratt Street. I had previously eaten here close to Halloween and had the risotto cakes. They were tasty and the asparagus was nicely prepared. My date's fish tacos looked nice, too. This is a cool, trendish-y place converted from an old bank, so you can see the old vault in the back. A nice vibe, but it's definitely more of a bar than a dining establishment. The beer list is extensive but the cocktails aren't that good. Seems like a great place to grab a drink, but move on to a real restaurant for dinner.
(3)
Melinda R.
I went to Alewife with a friend a Tuesday night. It was an opening night of a play at the Hippodrome nearby so it was PACKED! Once we got seated, we were promptly greeted by our waiter and our orders were taken. I was impressed how fast we got our food considering how crowded it was in there. I ordered the Smoke Burger which was amazing!!! It was perfectly cooked and the duck fat fries were awesome! I'd like to go back one day for happy hour or just dinner. The menu looked good with lots more on it I'd like to try.
(4)
Tom M.
This place has so much potential. Nearly 5 stars for me except one time when we had horrible service . They forgot us twice. I will give it another chance I guess. Burger is unbelievable. Decor is so authentic. Feels kinda like Brewers Art in Mt Vernon.
(4)
Elaine P.
Unfortunately horrible customer service, to the point where they think they are too good that it doesn't matter how they treat people, outweighs the good food. So sad because it is really convenient to where I work, however after multiple poor experiences my entire office has sworn them off.
(2)
Lauren B.
A converted church giving off a hipster vibe, if you have time to wait for balcony seating it offers a great overview of the scene. Alewife has an extensive craft beer selection with knowledgeable staff, but a limited dinner menu. We ordered the Blue Catfish fish tacos which were average, with a crisp topping of fried sweet potato strings that I enjoyed. Duck fat fries are a must try. Bring your appetite if you want the smoked burger, it looked mouth watering and filling!
(3)
Miriam D.
The beer selection is exciting, the menu has tasty vegetarian options as well as meat ones, and the space is pleasant and handicap accessible. I have especially enjoyed the black bean veggie burger (they do not skimp on toppings) with fries and chipotle mayo, and several excellent IPAs. The price is very reasonable. The food is a bit more expensive than average bar food, but only by a few dollars. It is definitely worth it.
(4)
Joe I.
Total college bar that has a MASSIVE beer selection with surprisingly limited options on tap and insanely delicious duck fat fries. I was happy to have visited the place as it is pretty cool for a one time visit, though at 37 I think I may have been the oldest person there, so that was weird. Overall cool, happy I went, duck fat fries = awesome, but I'd rather check other places in the area out before going back.
(3)
Lola W.
Awesome beer selection and the best black bean burger ever. While the fries are awesome, try substituting the side salad instead for a healthier option. It is not your average boring salad. I wish their happy hour went to 7 instead of 630 though.
(5)
Jessica S.
We just came here for drinks for a few nights in a row while we were in town, and the beers certainly didn't disappoint. All of the beers on tap have awesome names which really entice you to try them. I also like how the %alc and price are listed as well. Lightweights beware: most of these beers are heavy on the alcohol, none of this weak Coors Light nonsense. We didn't have food here, but we did participate in the pub/trivia quiz... which was laughingly easy compared to ones we're used to :)
(5)
Robbie H.
Have heard about Alewife for about a year or two now and finally made reservations far enough in advance to grab dinner before a show at the Hippodrome. The dining room was noisy, and we were just on the other side of the partition adjacent to a very crowded bar area. Throughout dinner I had to strain to hear my fiance. The decor was nice, some interesting stained glass windows, and all was basically clean, strong, and a bit classic. The beer list was impressive and was the best thing about our meal, I had two kinds of beer, both were delicious and unique (and for a change my beers were more expensive than my fiance's cocktails!). Our appetizer, some uninspired mini-crab cakes, came out literally 1 minute before our entrees. I got the Salmon, and my fiance got the Delmonico. Both were decent, but lacking in distinct flavor or execution. The sides were a little better, but nothing better than any of the dozens of fantastic restaurants in Baltimore at a similar price point. We splurged on dessert, and the Orange Blossom cake was delicious. We should have splurged on burgers, as the Alewife burger we saw other people devouring looked great, and may be the only thing other than the beer list worth coming to Alewife for. We decided we'll go back in a few months to try the burger, but aside from that, nothing really had us interested in returning. It's a shame though - we're subscribers to the Hippodrome, and were hoping for a great place to go before a show. Still haven't found anyplace near the Hippodrome that gives a quality meal for the money... aside from the Panera between the Hippodrome and the hospital.
(2)
Dina B.
When I cancelled the Annabelle Lee tavern reservation, my husband was very upset, but I told him, 'trust me, you will not be disappointed' with Alewife. As I expected, it was terrific! We arrived at 7:15 for a 7:45 reservation; the place was jammed packed with the pre-theater crowd. By 8:00, the crowd thinned. The beer menu is extensive and I tried the Shafley pumpkin ale - fantastic. I had 2. We started with the garlic Caesar salad which lived up to its name...garlicky and delicious. One of the best Caesars I have had. My husband opted for the short rib, which came with onion rings, corn bread, and asparagus. He loved it. I had the famed smokehouse burger, which rivaled the Fleet Street Kitchen burger for best burger in town. But, Fleet Street took its burger off the menu, so Alewife wins. There are no desserts, so don't save room. Go somewhere else for sweets. The pastry chef left and has not been replaced. Oh well. I think they should work on this. Still, the place was great, good for vegetarians as well as carnivores. Will definitely return.
(4)
Jojo S.
Biggest let down of the century. Went t get a bite with my sister. I should have left when the guy at the door told us it would be a 15 minute wait for a table when there were empty tables. The bartender was very nice and told us to sit down. We ordered drinks and their famous burger (medium) to share. Cut it in half and had a bite only t realize it was rare (I'm talking about- warning consuming raw or undercooked meat could make you sick rare) instead of medium. The waitress said she did not know what to do so I asked for the manager. He said he would have them remake it. Fifteen minutes later they gave us the burger cut in half on an bun that was not toasted which I thought was weird. It also did not look as mouth watering as the first burger. I pulled back the bun and realized they recooked the two halves that we had each taken a bite out of. Is that sanitary? I don't think so. Asked for the manager and the check. Went elsewhere to eat.
(1)
Maria A.
Nested in a rather sketchy part of town, just a few blocks from Lexington Market and a few blocks from the Orioles/ Ravens stadiums. Therefore on game day expect a lot of traffic and no parking. This old bank has been remodeled into a mohogany panelled pub, giving it a luscious old English feel. First off, I went in there with my partner who is wheat intollerant, the waitress was extremely attentive to her needs and pretty much attentive overall, and I should mention that the place was packed since it was a Ravens game night. As a beer aficionado, I was extremely happy to see their extensive beer list. In fact, I must say I was so pleasently surprised that certain rare beers were available. As far as higher end beers go this place so far carries the greatest selection I have seen in Baltimore, including the locally famous Fells Point landmark Max's (which I also love).The house burger is to die for, absolutelty deliciously juicy and cooked to perfection. I must add that this burger is compiled from high quality cuts not assorted animal parts. The vegetarian black bean patty, for my less flesh loving partner was also delicious. On the other hand, the extremely thin cut fries (fried in duck fat), I can do without. Because they are cut too thin they tend to over absorb the fat they are fried in making them either limp or burnt. To m dissapointment, they do not carry Grey Poupon, leaving me stuck with the neon yellow substance Americans call "mustard". On the other hand the waitress was quick to offer a lovely aioli dipping sauce, which can also be used on your burger. Again skip the fries. Reservations are available during the week but not on the weekends. This is definitively the place to get a sublime burger and a good beer, in fact this is where you will find me when I get that craving again.
(4)
Alex G.
Perhaps it was simply a respite from the truly bizarre business trip I was enduring, but eating and drinking at Alewife was one of the most enjoyable experiences I'd had at a pub in a long long time. First, the food: the smoke burger was delicious, and what I've come to realize is a fast-dying art, cooked to perfection (yes, medium-rare means bright pink throughout). My only suggestion would be a slightly more durable bun to handle what is a very serious piece of meat. The duck-fat cooked fries, while no comparison to the standard-bearer (Duckfat in Portland, ME), were also quite good. The beer selection was unrivaled. I finally got to taste a pumpkin ale that didn't taste like liquid pumpkin pie (thanks, Dogfish Head). And the bartendress' t-shirt pretty much summed it up: "I drink real beer because I'm awesome." Well said. Finally, the atmosphere. It has everything you'd expect from a good local bar, including several TVs (which were neither too loud nor too quiet), a lively but not unruly crowd, and stained oak throughout. The most endearing part was when two patrons mounted the bar to perform a song in celebration of having drank 150 different beers at the establishment. They were presented with engraved mugs in honor of their accomplishment, as well as a hearty congratulations from everyone in attendance. I'm only here in Baltimore for a week. I wonder how many times I can come back in that time span?
(5)
Beth S.
This place makes me look like a badass every time I bring someone new. It's beautiful--all wooden and classy with ridiculously tall ceilings and the BEER! Oh, the beer. So many options--which rotate frequently--and the servers can speak intelligently on the special characteristics of each beer on the extensive menu. I'm vegan but consistently looking for places that don't make my dietary choices a pain in the ass for my buddies. Alewife has what is apparently a killing burger, and I dig the asparagus side dish as well as the Alewife salad (without cheese). *Vegan side note--if you get nervous about drinks, check out barnivore.com to see if the drinks you like are animal-friendly.* This is an excellent first date place if your date is into beer--lots of things to try and discuss. I've also brought large and small groups of friends here--the atmosphere is accommodating to both. It's usually more of a 30s crowd than a 20s crowd, which is a nice change from Max's in Fells. I love their beer selection too, but the din and fratty atmosphere kind of ruin it for me. Alewife is a little off the beaten path (down by the Hippodrome) but it seems to be developing a following of loyal customers. Get to Alewife. You'll dig it.
(5)
Jenice G.
They pour some good local brews, and the smoke burger was super tasty. Be sure to check this place out!
(4)
Hung T.
Can someone please tell me why this place is called Alewife? What is an alewife? 0_0 Anyways....this spot is your usual bar hangout for working professionals and grad students. Good for a break after studying. Just go in, grab a table, order a couple beers. Their beer list is MASSIVE. Over 100+ Duck fat fries (seems like every gastro pub/high end bar has em these days) are alright. I dont see what the big deal is. Their signature burger is also just alright. Your first three bites will seem like its the best thing ever. But then you get tired of it real fast. And last time it was a little burnt so it didn't taste that good when i got to those parts. However it was pretty damn juicy. $15 for burger + duck fat fries. A little on the steep side. If you're not careful, the bill can add up reall quick. Overall, a higher end bar with huge beer and wine list, OK food, and good service/ambience.
(3)
Pam C.
Great GastroPub. Excellent staff. Awesome Beer selection. Only had appetizers tonight, the crab deviled eggs, very good. Thai peanut sauce wings, good, would have liked more of the peanut sauce. Other patrons were going crazy over their Smoke Burger...with the duck fat fries....will be getting that next time!
(5)
Sidney S.
The only thing going for this place is their beer selection. Other than that, food is just ok and service is less than exemplary. The six of us went in for dinner and beers on a Sunday night. The place was mostly empty (about 25% full). I got the smoke burger, which was edible, although the bacon on it was too chewy and clearly of a lower quality. More importantly, service was BAD. Once the waitress learned there were six of us (one of our friends joined later on), she altogether stopped caring. We literally had to track her down 4-5 times to fill up our water glass etc. In the end, she added a 20% to the check, of course. So not a great experience for the price.
(1)
Travis D.
Alewife is a unique experience in a city that, lately, has been desperately running away from unique experiences. The environment is modern beerhall-meets-the set of Cheers and it works well. Considering the prices (they're not cheap), the laid-back atmosphere definitely puts one at ease as they await their meal. The beer list is extensive and eclectic without being pretentious. There are some doozies on the bottles list ($25 for a beer from Scotland? ehhh maybe not) but the draft list is a bit more down-to-earth. The menu is meat-centric and awesome. Our party started with the meat & cheese platter. Served on a cutting board, the evening's choices were smoked salmon, chorizo, gruyere, bleu cheese with bread- and it was all fantastic. For the entree I had the smoke burger, which is easily the best burger in Baltimore. Cheesy, smoky, and 125% satisfying. The prices may scream "snobby" but Alewife turned out to be anything but, and I can't wait to save up some sheckles and go back.
(5)
Kurt B.
An "A+" bar. It's in an old (like 1800s old) firehouse or something, and there's beautiful high ceilings, stained glass, and exposed brick. It's a terrific building. The smokeburger with herbed duckfat fries was gourmet quality everything, and the side of aioli was divinely spicy and smoky. They have a huge changing draft selection that's a mix of well-loved and obscure craft beers. Clientele are a mix of Hopkins students, yuppies, and tourists. This area doesn't really have 'locals'. That said, for great food and a great beer I can't think of a better place in Baltimore.
(5)
Jeff K.
Too hip for happy hour
(3)
Tony S.
They nailed the three B's. Beer = cold, Burger = awesome, Bartendress = cute. What else do you want? To put a little more detail, they have an excellent beer selection. Recommend the La Chouffe strong ale. The smoke burger was really good. I like that they serve it one way, you tell them how you want it cooked and move on with your day. This isn't burger king where you give a million details about how you want mushrooms and avocado, etc.. Alewife cooks it their way and you'll like it if your a REAL American. If you don't like it, then you're obviously a commie.
(5)
Spencer H.
Been wanting to check out Alewife for a long time, since it's a pretty popular spot. Stopped in last night before seeing a show at the Hippodrome (right across the street). It was super crowded - likely that every other theater patron had the same idea - but the beer list did not disappoint. The first beer I ordered had just kicked, so the bartender recommended a very tasty substitute, no doubt a benefit of having such an extensive selection. After the show we decided to stop back in for a snack and nightcap. Had a bourbon cider which really hit the spot. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked tasty, but menu options were extremely limited for me, a vegan, and my vegetarian companion. I would have given it 5 stars for location, atmosphere, and tasty beverages, but I had to knock off a star for the lack of veg-friendly options. If you're into burgers though, you'll probably love this place!
(4)
Sina E.
We decided to go here with some friends who came back for the Thanksgiving holidays and Alewife was an excellent choice. Walking in, the atmosphere was nice, quiet at first, and eventually when the music came on, it wasn't too loud where you couldn't hold a conversation. Up front there is a bar, tables around, and upstairs for more intimate setting. Menu doesn't have too many selections, but it's not such a bad thing. So often restaurants clutter their menu with too many choices, but Alewife has kept it to some nice few selections, giving something for everyone. I got the Cubano for my entree. It was packed with flavor and a nice portion size. Pork loin and virginia ham with mustard relish went well together. The fries on the side was also a hit. Of course, if you come here, you have the choice of variety of beers, and this is really where the restaurant shines. For the beer Connoisseurs, it's great. All the beer selections are written on a big chalk board. Some selections are usually there all year, but others change and seasonal. Overall, I really enjoyed the food and the drinks here. Service was great. Staff was more than happy to help with beer selections, and attentive to everything else we asked for. The combination of all these factors warrants a five stars experience.
(5)
Jim D.
Great beer selection and a great place to hang out. Really beautiful spot for a bar. Mellow vibe, usually whatever sporting event is happening on TV, good music selection. Waitstaff is friendly and know their beer. The bean burger is surprisingly good, and the duck fat fries are killer. I am sure they liposuction the ducks, so the combo makes both the animals and the vegetarians happy.
(5)
Laura Lee E.
Possibly the best burger I have ever put in my mouth. First visit was to use a Groupon and check the place out. Second visit was because the first was so nice. Oh, and they have enough beer for you to BATHE in it on tap. Cool old bank that has been several things in its history, but makes for a fun and interesting tavern. I like that there are TVs to watch various sporting events, but that there is music playing at a level you can talk with your dinner partners over, rather than TV chatter. Note that you may ask for small samples before choosing from the extensive beer list so you know you love it before you buy it. Service both times was lovely, once at a table, once at the bar. And entertaining. When there on Thursday, the day it was 103 degrees as I walked in, literally, the heavens opened with a vengeance about an hour later.As the bartender opened the inside shutters to reveal the downpour (you couldn't see the Hippodrome across the street!), he turned to the bar and said "Anyone bring an ark? No one panic...just keep drinking beer." The Smoke Burger - An 11oz House Ground Ribeye, Brisket, Skirt and Filet of Beef Burger, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere Cheese, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun, Duck Fat Fries. Served with a full sized steak knife sticking out of the center of the bun, is impressive and delicious. The first time it was prepared absolutely perfectly. The second it was slightly more medium, than medium rare, but that didn't keep me from savoring every bite. The fries are hand cut and crispy-delicious. This may be a slightly pricier adventure that your average 'beer hall' but the food, the 40 beers on tap and the service are well above average.
(4)
Kelly M.
The BF finally bought a Groupon and of course it was to a beer house. Bless his hop-filled little heart! The location is right across from the Hippodrome so I imagine parking can be hard to find and I'm sure it's pretty packed when shows are on but we arrived relatively early on a Friday night and had no problem getting a table. The beer menu is (not surprisingly) very large and comprehensive with over 40 beers on tap and pages of unique bottled beers. The prices for the draught beers were not bad and the selection was good although the BF and I had already tried several. But we both found selections we hadn't tried that were very satisfying and well recommended by our server. I was also please to see that although their wine menu is small it was well chosen and there were some good options there although I thought the price for a glass was a bit high. We ordered the mussels for an appetizer. They were solid although I would have liked a bit more bread to soak up the broth. BF ordered the risotto cakes which he really enjoyed. I thought they were fair. I ordered the Cubano sandwich and the duck fat fries. I enjoyed my sandwich and thought the fries were good too however not as good as the Brewer's Art fries. All in all it was a good meal and I liked the atmosphere - it would be a fun place to go to with a group or if I was going to the theater, otherwise it's unfortunately a place I likely won't go often as the location isn't convenient for where we live in the city and without another Groupon in hand I might prefer to spend my $60 bucks somewhere else.
(3)
Cornelius E.
I had the smoked burger and it was okay. The grog is definitely a different story. I really enjoyed hanging out one night at this fine alcoholic establishment. It's a beer nerds library of sorts with all the beer selection they have. I cant say the same about the morning after though...guess thats a good sign for the pub.
(4)
Christopher T.
What's not to love about this place? Showed up here before the Orioles/Yankees game with my brother in town from NY. Thanks to Yelp it came up as the closest best brewpub between the hotel and Camden. Thanks Yelp, you really came through on this one. Their beer selection is probably the best I've seen in Baltimore in a couple of visits, it will for sure become a regular stop on future trips. As a visitor from DC I was happily shocked at how low the pint prices were here, like $2 a beer cheaper than the exact same thing in DC, and the kicker, everything is $1 off at happy hour. The staff was incredibly friendly as we sat at the bar, good recommendations of beers to try and just all around nice folks. We liked it so much we stopped back again after the game for a couple more, entirely different staff working, still incredibly friendly. It may be on the fancy side by Baltimore standards but the food looked amazing (though we stuck to beers both visits). I'd say skip the mixed drinks here and stick to the impressive beer selection, taps and bottles both. Make sure to also check out the bottom of the menu where they've typed in their "If you don't like your beer/Go F yourself" policy, so succinctly Baltimore, I loved it.
(4)
Jennifer O.
I went here for lunch with some others who chose it. I ordered the catfish tacos, which were good, but nothing terribly special. Most of the other people with whom I went with, UMD employees and students, ordered the burger with duck fat fries and swear by it. The fries I snatched weren't the best executed, since they were a little floppy, but the burger looked like a HUGE amount of juicy meat. It took 20 minutes, maybe more between offering and receiving our food, though.
(3)
Pissed off A.
Came by on a slow Sunday (plenty of seating) and ordered the bacon cheeseburger, medium rare, with duck fries - a truly satisfying meal! Now that football season is back, I'll definitely come back here again after catching a game!
(4)
Ravi D.
The waiters and servers are rude. Will never go there again! We went there when only 3 tables were being served. It took the restaurant about 15 minutes to serve water. I noted that the server didn't introduce himself and almost threw the glasses around.
(1)
Steven D.
Synopsis: Atmosphere: 3.5/5 Service: 4/5 Taste: 5/5 Price: 3.5/5 Selection: 4/5 This place is mainly a bar with some food items. While the food may be a little low in selection, the food items are so very good to eat. The selection of beers is so very long it is crazy. The atmosphere of this place is pretty good. Built in an old bank, and has the original interior it seems. However, when I went the music was a little loud. I was still able to talk, but it could have been turned down. I have been there other times and the music was fine, but the most recent time it was a little loud. I went in the evening, so that could have been the case. Service wasn't bad at all. Got the food in a very reasonable amount of time, the server was nice, and we got our beers in a quick time too. The taste is excellent. I got the burger they have to offer and it was awesome. I have had the burger multiple times and it never fails to impress me. The fries they have are made in duck fat and are great. The selection, as I said early, could be expanded in the food department. While the food is great, I feel like there could be more food. The drinks however are perfect. So many to choose from. Now the price of the food is good for the quality, but the amount for the drinks is a little high. I believe this place is a microbrewery, so it is going to be high, but it seemed quite pricy for my tastes. The beers that I got were really good, but cost a pretty penny. Overall, if you want a good burger and good beer then this place will be for you. Just be prepared to pony up a good amount of cash.
(4)
Kaylee H.
I really like Alewife's beer selection. They have an incredible array of really rare (hipster. beautifully hipster) beers. Also, I must say that I have *ahem* selflessly volunteered myself to quality check their kamakaze shots on multiple occasions. They have received my stamp of approval. I really like their burgers, which come with some nice duck fat fries. On Mondays they have a really fun trivia night, which I have never managed to win, but there are prizes for the winners.
(5)
Steve G.
Alewife has one of the better beer selections in the area but be prepared to pay Manhattan prices. Most are between $7 and $11 for a 12oz pour which works out to about $9-$15 a pint. If you want a beer and a $16 burger this place is just OK, the rest of the menu (I have been several times prior to concerts at the Hippodrome) is pretty disappointing. This time I thought I would order the chicken waffle sliders and all they are is a Chick Fil A nugget and a bit of bacon and cheese between two mini Eggo frozen waffles - like the ones you toast and break into 4. I was speechless. $14 for three of them. It should be offered as an appetizer for $8. I finished my meal before my buddy was 1/4 way through his burger. The fellow on the table next to me got some other similar slider 'entree' and ended up eating that and half his wife's burger. Decor is interesting. It's an old bank with wood paneling, old wood floors and peeling paint. Clientele seems to be a lot of hipster dudes with full beards and backpacks. It's that kind of place. The saving grace is the beer selection but as previousuly mentioned, take your check book. Worth a try if you're off to the Hippodrome, otherwise, I wouldn't go out of my way to find this place.
(2)
Z S.
If you're going for a beer - 3.5 stars. Anything else 1.5 stars. Do not order the chicken and waffle sliders, all they are is deep fried mini eggo waffles ( the ones you put in the toaster and break into 4 mini pieces) a large chicken nugget, small piece of bacon and cheese. And there's only 3 of them. For $14......? Absolutely absurd. Granted they were decent, there's no way I can give more than two stars. Especially because the server brought me shrimp and grits sliders!!
(2)
Leo O.
Came here with a group of 11 and we had no issues getting seated. Granted it was on a tuesday evening. We all ordered from their draught section and one of us ordered their fried oysters. In terms of the fried oysters, it was just okay. Basically it was spicy buffalo wings sauce but over oysters. It didn't go well together. Frying oysters didnt work well either because it tasted even more soggy due to the inherent texture of oysters. I am no expert in beers but I actually liked the beer that I got: Flying Dog Dead Rise. I liked the subtle hint of spicyness in the beer due to the old bay spice. It wasn't too hoppy for me. They give a decent sized glass. Service was decent. Only thing was that the table had not been wiped down before we sat down and was not wiped down throughout our time there. I would recommend this place if you wanted to go somewhere else but still near the convention center. In terms of food, if the appetizer was any representation, I would be hesitant in recommending their food.
(3)
Steve L.
Oddly, the burger is the worst part of the otherwise great Smoke Burger. Hit the Alewife (incidentally the Red Line terminus in Cambridge, MA) late Preakness Saturday to soak up racetrack alcohol and winnings. Glad to see it open until two. Got the ballyhooed Smoke Burger with duckfat fries, and the initial impression was one of terrific flavor; unfortunately, this did not hold up with extended chewing. The culprit was an altogether unseasoned beef patty. Though it was clear that it was recently broken down from a fine slab of meat, they didn't bother to pursue beef umami Nirvanna. Basically a slab of grilled (premium) ground beef. The thick cut bacon saved the burger, but the star should have been the beef. Next time, Alewife, finish your signature burger.
(3)
Caitlin R.
I've heard good things about this place and I've been meaning to try it. We came as a group of 14 (had a 7:30 reservation) and were seated in the back room. After reading so-so reviews of this place, I decided I wasn't going to listen to that, because the menu looked simple and good, and the beer list was extensive! I read someone's review from 2012, and it was EXACTLY what I wanted to say. It seems like things haven't changed much. But here's my take: Bad service - the waitress walked by us quite a few times before ever even coming over and saying anything. We were waiting for friends to trickle in to eat, but would have loved to get started with a beer. Also, she would come to half of the table and walk away before asking anyone else if they needed anything. This pretty much caused me anxiety because I felt rushed and like I always had to be on the look out for her. She would also come over to take an empty glass, or regretfully inform us that they didn't have a beer, the keg was kicked, or they were out of that, and not ask if anyone else needed anything. Food - Meh. Had better. Brussels, skip. Go to Rocket to Venus instead if you want some bomb ass brussels. Shrimp and Grits - the best thing I tried on their menu. The sauce that accompanies the fried grit balls with the shrimp completes the dish. Delicious. The Smoke Burger - about 6 of them ordered Medium rare to Medium range....6 of them came out well done. Who wants this "amazing" burger well done? (the menu says to please be patient when ordering this because it may take a while....maybe that's why, because they are cooking them all well done.....just saying). The Roasted Eggplant Dip - strong flavors, but salty. Not worth $10 bucks. The black bean burger - It's fine. Nothing special. I couldn't taste the difference between the regular fries and the duck fat fries. Go to Annabelle Lee's (in Canton/Highlandtown) for some better duck fat fries (and a good beer selection). Drinks - Great selection, but they were out of a lot, the keg was kicked, or they just didn't have some. Beware - the whiskeys don't have prices - Whistle Pig Boss Hog - $34. I had the Burley Oak Tart Attack ($7) - and it was delicious. I also ordered the Bahn It To Me (Vodka, pickled carrots, cilantro, carrot tops, lemon, and cayanne). I really enjoyed this very interesting cocktail, and props to them for trying something different and ballsy, but it was served without the cilantro and carrot tops. I asked for the cilantro, and was given it on the side, I'm not sure if it was supposed to be muddled or what, but I just added it. Good flavor. Atmosphere - Neat. Used to be an old bank. If you have a table of 4, you can sit inside one of the old vaults which is pretty cool. So bottom line: If you work in the area and had a rough day or you are seeing a show at the Hippodrome, sure, stop in for a drink or 2. If you're looking for dinner and drinks, go somewhere else. There are a ton of other awesome places in the city. Personally, I won't be back.
(2)
Clare C.
Met up with some co-workers here after work. The ambiance made for a fun experience, and the beer list was impressive. The shrimp/grits croquettes were certainly delicious, although definitely a bit overpriced for the amount of food - a burger or other sandwich would have been better bang for my buck. I'd go back for a drink and atmosphere, but probably not for food.
(4)
Randy G.
Inside has a nice appeal with the restaurant being a former bank. The vault and it's big think steel door remains giving it a cool look. Once the server mentioned it, you can begin recognizing the old bank layout shell. It's neat how they have preserved it while still giving it it's own interior design. They have a great selection of beer with some very good local options to try. We started with the Shrimp Grits and Thai Chicken Wings. These are two great starters with the plates being cleared. The shrimp was cooked nicely along with the grits. It had nice flavor contrast between the two. The wings are a get-again dish with the sauce the true star. The chicken was tender and the sauce had a great sweet and tangy flavor to draw you in for the next wing. On the server's recommending, they are supposed to be known for their burgers. Therefore why not try their signature Smoked Burger with Duck Fat Fries. Well, they probably could have kept both and wish I had tried something else. This place started on such a great note, but fizzled out with their so called star. The burger was cooked to my liking, but didn't have any of the flavor I was expecting. Smoked? Not sure if the meat was supposed to have a smoked flavor or the cheese. Either way, I didn't get any of it. For the fries, they were more of the soggy texture than a nice outer crunch and soft inside. They either were sitting around or not cooked long enough. They started off with a few good hits in the beginning, but struck out later in the game.
(3)
Rachel L.
On a Friday evening for dinner, my friend Nicole and I were looking to grab a burger and a beer and just catch up. If you're looking for a burger in Baltimore, many are familiar with Abbey Burger which is constantly being written up as the best burger in Baltimore. And if you want plenty of options, that's a great spot. But when you're craving a a great burger, and you don't feel like building it yourself, Alewife is worth a visit. It's also one of the many spots in Baltimore that I have a City Dining Card for. After sitting down and looking over the impressive drink menu, seriously this place is worth a visit for its beer list alone. My friend and I each decided to get the burger. I got it because I know how awesome it is, she probably got it because I hyped it up all day long. The Smoke Burger is 11oz of beef topped with smoked gouda, gruyere, bacon, caramelized onion, and chipotle aioli on a brioche bun. And if that burger isn't amazing enough on its own, it comes with a side of duck fat fries. This burger is so juicy and packed with delicious smoky flavors. It's hands down my favorite burger in Baltimore. If you're looking for a notable beer list and a great burger, I'd highly recommend Alewife.
(4)
GT W.
Huge amount of tap system in a near chapel-like space with massive dark wood beam rafters and a high ceiling with balconies looking down. We had great service and very good food like "Kobe beef" hotdogs, turkey legs, barbecue pork. Decent bottle list. Even though the tap list is very large, the variety isn't as impressive as Stillwater's Of Love & Regret or Max's. However, I think the food and ambiance here is much better than Max's.
(3)
Alex F.
Great burger and duck fat fries. Large selection of really good beers, but pricey. In a sketchy area of bmore.
(4)
Becca R.
Came back to Alewife a few weeks ago on a rare date night for some drinks and dinner. My suspicions were right that we should have made reservations, but we were lucky to snag the last two seats at the bar. It was packed wall to wall by the time we left. You have to not only take into account shows at the Hippodrome, but also the Arena and Everyman Theatre. The bartender was great, sometimes it's just more fun sitting at the bar, so it worked out. Some changes since I wrote my last review, they have a beer menu with the prices listed, which I appreciate. We both got the black bean burger and it was delicious. I love when restaurants make their own veggie burger patties because I am so sick those frozen patties dressed up in different ways. Alewife's burger had a little flavor kick to it and the fries were also good. Definitely will be back the next time we see a show at the arena as this is now the tradition.
(4)
Cam K.
Good beer selection. Snake head cakes was a good appetizer. Smoked burger was ok. Overall pretty cool upscale bar. Would not get the burger again
(3)
Patience M.
Service was good. But the menu is rather limited. My party of 10 decided to order the pork-belly mac&cheese fries as an appetizer which was good (the collard greens and mac&cheese were really good) but the fries on their own were just blah! Most entrees are served with a side of fries, I think more options for sides would be great. I had the black bean burger which was juicy and fairly good. I was disappointed that they skimped on the guacamole. In retrospect, I should have asked if they offer a salad substitute for the fries. It was Monday night - trivia night and the group participated, which was fun to do non-competitively.
(3)
Eileen H.
I was so disappointed by my experience at Alewife. We went around lunchtime on a weekend. There were a number of parties in there, but didn't look like it had been packed all morning or anything, so I was surprised when our waitress told us that the first THREE items that we wanted weren't available! The menu is very short, so that's something that they should have a handle on. This really damaged my experience there. Also, the fact that they don't have caffeinated coffee (I mean, it's a bar, so I didn't really expect coffee, but was surprised when our waitress said they served decaf, but not caffeinated? Finally, the women's bathroom is on a completely different floor than the eating/drinking area. The ambiance is charming, and our waitress was wonderful. The food was pretty good, and I thought it was really cool that they marked off entrees that make use of invasive or over-populated species. If my friends were dying to go back, I'd try it again, but at this point, wouldn't really recommend it to anyone.
(2)
Mindy M.
Grilled goat cheddar cheese and bacon sandwich with smokey tomato jam soup. A+. Skip the Thai peanut wings- very pedestrian. More soon- enjoying the O's ALDS game 1 win!!!!!!
(3)
Christopher W.
This would be my second time coming to this place due to me not really remembering if I liked or disliked the place. The lesson I learned was that there was not a reason for Alewife to make me remember liking the place. Nothing really against the waiter that helped me, but he really was frustrating to deal with. I simply asked if I could switch the cheeses to cheddar on the burger, and his reply was that I am not allowed to change anything on the burger. I didnt really understand why. Was the burger premade? was the burger toppings not allowed to be put on the side? After a long time of talking with him, it simply came down to the fact that they did not stock any other cheeses. So I just simply asked if the cheese could be omitted and my burger cooked medium rare. Now, at this point in time I was pretty frustrated and prayed to god that the burger was kick ass because I seldomly eat burgers without cheese. The result? terri-bad... not only was the burger not cooked medium rare, but the patty did not have much taste to it. The really only saving grace was that the fries were good and the beer selection they had was good. BTW, the lunch selection is very small... better to come for dinner as they do NOT serve the dinner menu during lunch time.
(3)
Ivy C.
Visited twice. I ordered the Smoke Burger but sadly it came well done instead of medium rare. I ate it anyway because it took so long. I didn't taste any "smoky" flavor which I expected too given the name . The patty was very dry so I had to wash eat bite down with my drink. The fries were nice and crispy but I couldn't taste any hint of the duck fat that they are supposed to be fried in. At $16.00 I expected better, but it was just "meh...". The second visit I ordered the fish tacos which were good, not great , but good ...but I was still hungry and ordered the thai wings which arrived cold and had the texture of boiled chicken skin coated in some spicy sauce, not what I expected. Our waiter took forever to take each of our orders, they were busy but it seemed like other people were being looked after just fine. On the plus side I do like the atmosphere there and it is a great place to try out a variety of draft beers. So even though the food I ordered was unimpressive... The concept is good but I believe there is room for improvement. I wanted to give 3.5 stars but there are no halfsies on Yelp :-( I will still go back but probably stick with some appetizers at the bar.
(3)
Kate A.
Great place in downtown Baltimore. On a cold, snowy winter day, perhaps it's a bit of a walk from the Inner Harbor. The fish tacos are phenomenally good, so good that I'm glad that I walked in the snow to enjoy them. There are a wide variety of beers to choose from. The noise level is high (at least on Friday nights). Service is good.
(4)
Timothy S.
Had a great time at Alewife this evening. Val the bartender was amazing, well versed in her beer knowledge. Thank you so much for your great service! Had a few beers from their 40 tap system all of which were quite uncommon and served in the correct, clean, glassware. Everyone on the staff was quite attentive and super helpful, my glass was never left empty. I will definitely be back soon.
(5)
Allison R.
Baltimore has so many great places to eat and this is one of those places. We went yesterday for opening day for the first time. Of course it was packed, but we were still able to get some drinks. We also were able to snag a table... The host was awesome! The food did take a while but you know what, we got a table on opening day. And it was worth it! My husband and I split the Brussels sprouts and the smoke burger with duck fat fries. The Brussels sprouts were buttery and topped with bacon crumbles. Yum. The burger was cooked perfectly (though it wasn't as special as the description made it sound, but it was still delicious). The bun was buttered and fluffy, and I'm really picky about bread. I won't eat it if it isn't fresh and not worth the calories. Not the case here. Oh let's not forget the... Duck. Fat. Fries. That's all I'll say about that. The orange crushes I enjoyed (um... Opening day!) were made with fresh oranges. Fresh freaking oranges sliced and squeezed on the spot for your order. They were $6 and amazing. Great way to kick of the season despite the loss. Definitely stop by to pre game, but expect to stand unless you get lucky. I don't think they typically take reservations but they did for opening day. Worth calling ahead and asking.
(5)
Jenny B.
Not a huge fan of Alewife: I find their menu to be limited and overpriced. Although I live like 2 min walking distance away, I don't often go because I feel like the food is not worth it for the price. The menu consists of burgers and other typical bar menu foods. I think there are more worthwhile places nearby (like Maiwand grill!) to go to!
(3)
Frank S.
I firmly believe that Alewife has the best curated selection of beer in Baltimore. They always have a thoughtful variety and I'm never left without many options. I think the atmosphere is enjoyable and I've not seen it too crowded. As far as vegan fare, not too much. I've only had the Black Bean Burger on a ciabatta roll (minus chipotle aioli) and french fries, but it's quite good. For drinking: 5 stars. For vegan dining: 3 stars (just because they at least have something. Overall: 4 stars.
(4)
Brook H.
We only ate here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon, so our review is rather limited. The location was rather empty, with only a single server, single bartender, and very few patrons. This place may be completely different during a weekend evening, so we can only comment on the service and food. Our server was perfectly fine and attentive, so there was little to report there. The food was very good and nicely done, but they had a very limited menu. I'm not sure if it expands during busy hours but I can see people with strict palates having problems. Their duck fat fries were awesome, though, and I think they are a must! The decor is really cool, as the building is rather old. Again, maybe when it's prime time, full of people, live music, etc., the feel of this place becomes more vibrant. Otherwise, it was like visiting a historic building and just sitting quietly. If I ever find the time to truly enjoy the night life (which means escaping kids and responsibilities), I'll give it a try again. I see a lot of potential that maybe I just missed on my singular visit.
(3)
Liz J.
In case you didn't know, Alewife offers 40 beers on tap! This is really for those of you who have never been to Alewife, because as soon as you walk in the door, you're surrounded by signs letting you know about their extensive draft selection. And you know what? It's a pretty good selection. Even I, a very picky beer drinker, found something delicious. The nice part about the drafts is that you can ask for a sample if you're feeling adventurous, but don't want to commit to the sticker price of a full glass. The food was really good, although the food menu is much smaller than the drink menu. I had the soup of the day (broccoli and gouda), and although I could feel the heavy cream going right to my hips, every bite was delicious. Well, every bite but the last bite, which I couldn't get, because the soup was served in a square bowl, leaving some of that creamy goodness to the dishwasher. Soup shouldn't go in square bowls! Salad? Sure. Mac and cheese? Perhaps. But soup? Round bowl please! I also had a black bean burger which had some good flavor, and was accompanied by sweet potato fries. I'm still not sure whether or not I liked the seasoned mayo that came with the dish, but I couldn't stop dipping my fries into it because it had a really interesting flavor. Besides the signs making sure you know they have 40 beers on tap, it had a nice ambiance. There are two sections - the front with the bar and tvs for people trying to catch a game and hang out with friends. We sat in the back section and had a bit of a quieter evening away from the tvs, and in the freezing weather, got a cozy spot right by the fireplace. So there are definitely options depending on what you want.
(4)
Barathi S.
I always get the same thing here, which I usually don't like doing but if you know what you like... The black bean burger and alewife salads are awesomely delicious. The burger is a thick party and very soft on the inside. It comes with yummy thin cut fries (which I prefer over the duck fat fries) . The salad is also amazing with candied nuts blue cheese and apples ... Mm could really go for that now! They have tons of beers on tap and will happily offer you a suggestion if you tell them your taste preferences. The decor (a converted old bank) is also great. If you are trivia inclined then check it out on Monday evenings.
(4)
Bernie C.
I can't believe I haven't written an Alewife review yet! An extensive collection of beers. The recommendations are usually pretty great. I'm just going to mention the smokehouse burger and duck fat fries because they are in fact delicious and should be mentioned despite the fact that every person on here has mentioned them. Still, I am here to advocate for the veggies and the appetizers. The chicken liver pate was such a happy little jar of food for me. Tasty. Delicious toast. The crispy artichokes made me re-fall in love with artichokes. Even people who don't like artichokes will like the crispy artichokes. Because those artichokes that come from a can that people put on salads? Not really the best artichokes can taste. The tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons = adorable. Nothing too too special, but grilled cheese croutons? Cute factor. I am also a fan of their Brussel sprouts. I love brussel sprouts though. My future child will watch television shows where the child won't eat the Brussel sprouts and just laugh at their stupidity. I am also a fan of their macaroni and cheese. Cheesy. Very hot. Salty creamy happiness. Fellow diners, if you feel you must get the burger, get the burger. But definitely explore that lite fare side of the page to start or share.
(4)
Christian C.
Was excited to try this place out after seeing the head chef hanging out with Andrew Zimmern on Bizarre Foods (not that I was expecting to eat bugs or anything weird). After a really long wait, our group of 5 was unceremoniously seated in a room on the 2nd floor with no windows, no view, nothing. Oh, it was right across the hall from the women's bathroom. Gross. Avoid this room at all cost. We were starving so we stayed put. During our interminable wait for a table, I checked out the menu and was impressed with their beer offerings so I was really looking forward to trying some new brews. When I ordered my flight, I was informed that there was only one bartender working and they were slammed so I wouldn't be able to pick what beers I wanted in my flight. Say what? Fail. The shrimp po boy that I ordered was nothing to write home about, but the fries that came with it cooked in duck fat were delicious. My friends ordered the Smoke burger which was fantastic. The patty was huge but still cooked to perfection, and the different cheeses and the brioche bun tied it all together. If I ever come back, THAT'S what I'm ordering (as long as there is more than one bartender working).
(2)
Steve H.
Ask Gabe, a Redskins fan so obviously a good guy, for beer and food recommendations. Tell him you know a guy who was with "Steve" (not me, but someone else in my group) and you'll be in for a treat. Allagash Black, Old Rasputin, Catfish Tacos, Duck Fries, and Smoke Burger are all great choices.
(4)
Ryan Z.
Alewife is one of my favorite finds in Baltimore. The atmosphere is great, and the owners did a superb job with the adaptive reuse of the old buildings that now make up this restaurant. I'm not much of a drinker, but I really enjoyed trying a couple beer samples (for free) and picking out the perfect pint with the help of a kindly waitress. What really stood out was how excellent the food was for being at a bar. We started with the truffled mac and cheese - rich and creamy with a couple of truffle shavings (nice touch!) and a 'grown-up' flavor courtesy of the truffle oil. The crab cakes were surprisingly delicious. I pushed off the corn and tomato dressing so I could focus on tasting the crab, and I was not let down. The cakes appeared to have been fried in a light beer batter which was a welcome surprise. These aren't going to be enormous jumbo lump cakes like you'd get at Faidley's or Gunning's but they were very good to say the least, and the delicate flavor of crab wasn't overwhelmed by any fillers. I had the smoke buger (without aioli), and I was not disappointed. While my burger came out medium instead of medium rare as ordered, I was very satisfied with the enormous (3/4 lb) juicy patty and applewood smoked bacon (which I might add was fried to perfection) all on slightly-charred brioche. It is definitely one of the top 10 burgers I've ever had. Downside: it was so big and so filling that I didn't have room for dessert!
(4)
Ross B.
One of the best burgers in baltimore. Prepare to wait for it though cause it takes a little while. It's worth it though. Also awesome beer selection. Make sure to sample something before you order it because you can't send it back but they are more than happy to sample it. Service kinda sucks though.
(4)
Thomas M.
I highly recommend this place... Beer is always fresh out of the tap and the food is amazing. If you have the pleasure of having Leila as your bartender you absolutely will not be disappointed. She is an amazing bartender!!!!
(5)
Jessica D.
I'll be honest I've eaten here once a few years ago and it was ok. Decided to try again and never got past the host stand. Last night in the tornado watch and extreme downpour I was driving to make my reservation at 6 pm. White knuckled and delayed I couldn't call to alert the restaurant of my problem. I arrived 20 minutes late and soaking wet (I mean soaking wet). As I approached the host stand I was greeted by an uninviting host who said "sorry I sat your table". I asked "You're kidding me? With the weather and tornado watches you decided that I was a no show? Why didn't you call me since when I made the reservation you asked for my cell phone?" His reply was I have 30-40 no shows a night so I sat people. " Is that my problem? Maybe he should consider taking NO reservations. I'm in the service business near DC. I see patients every 20 mins. If one of them is late my staff calls and makes sure they are okay and still coming. If they arrive more than 10 mins late we let them know that we will still see them, offer them coffee, tea, water and a snack. We accommodate them. The man ( he definitely wasn't gentle) last night did nothing of the sort. He was cold, unforgiving, and completely not customer focused. I will never give the restaurant a chance because of his lack of service. The least he could have said was "I'm sorry Mrs ---- you are late for your reservation and I gave your table away. I'd be happy to have your party join our happy hour crowd and get you a table ASAP". But instead after the iced cold shoulder we went next door to Forno where we greeted with smiles and warm towels.
(1)
Victoria S.
Thanks to my fellow yelpers this is my go-top spot whenever I am in Baltimore to see a show at the Hipp! I've been here a couple times now and I can honestly say I am a big fan. First of all, if you like beer. You will be in heaven. Not only do they have two pages of menu items of bottles of every type of hard cider, pale ale and pilsner imaginable they also have an extensive list of beers on draft. I try a few things every time I'm there. Of course I am always overwhelmed but the servers are normally so well informed they can walk you through the best choices. They offer to bring samples which is great, as so many choices, it's hard to pick the perfect ale! If you want a burger, you came to the right place. The Steakhouse burger is one of their specialties but NOTE: If you want it - order it IMMEDIATELY as it takes longer than anything else on the menu! Duck fat fries are divine as well as the Boar meatballs. Plenty of choices to please every palate. Some words to the wise. If you're going before a show at the Hippodrome, or on a night there IS a show. I'd definitely advise getting reservations. There is a lot of seating but best to be safe. Another tip, make sure to give yourself a lot of time. That delicious food needs time to be prepared. Go with enough time to have a few cocktails and enjoy your time there. My ONLY complaint is the noise level in the back room. High ceilings with minimal wall art makes it quite echoey - I had a hard time chatting the last time I was there. The first time I was in the main dining area and it was fine but when it fills up it gets LOUD.
(4)
Harold S.
Based on the reviews, it seemed like this place is hit or miss. Tonight was beyond miss. The sign at the podium says wait to be seated, however no one is there. I wandered into the bar where no one will acknowledge your.. The finally your shouted at to sit anywhere you want. After sitting it took over 10 minutes to get a beer. Finally we just left. The tables were sticky and the menus where very soiled as well. Will not return.
(1)
Luke B.
Being from Boston, I had to visit Alewife while in Baltimore. Huge beer selection and we were able to sample our beer before we ordered a full one. The food was fantastic. I had the smoke burger and it was AWESOME!!!! My girlfriend had the mac & cheese and it was amazing. The duck fat fries were to die for! Service was exceptional and they were knowledgeable about the food and beer selection.
(5)
Bex G.
I had such high hopes for this place with their beer list and location. We made a reservation on open table and when they tried to seat us, it was a windowless cave and hardly any light. The whole restaurant was open and the hostess made a comment that they were all booked for the evening. She finally moved up to a room with light. We ordered beer and that was good. If you are going to have a menu with limited food items then they should be good. We ordered the brussels sprouts and fried artichokes for an appetizer for our table to four. When they arrived, not plates were given to us and I saw our server give plates to a table that was seated after us. The fried artichoke hearts were good enough, but the brussels sprouts were under cooked, not roasted and lacked all flavor. I had to fix them with some salt and pepper. Since the server never came to check on us, I had to get up and go ask for salt and pepper because there were none on the tables. We ordered the $16 burger for our main meal it at least filled me up before the baseball game. But for $16, I wouldnt order it again. I asked for medium and the burger was well done. I asked for an extra side of mayo, only to find out that they charged me $0.50 for less than 2 ounces and didnt give me a warning about this would happen. It looks like the chef should focus less on invasive species on the menu and either train the cooks to make flavorful food. Also, dont put a dish on a very limited menu already if it isnt going to be great. By the way, Manny Machado is an invasive species, so they should consider putting him on the menu (Go A's!) After this poor experience, I will not visit this establishment again. For those that want beer, only go for the beer and that is all.
(1)
Dave F.
Came for Happy Hour. Their happy hour consists of roughly 12 drafts (the list changes as they run out of beer), 2 wines, beer mussels, a taco of the day, and duck fries; where each of these are $5 from 4-7pm. While they did have 40 taps for beer, we stuck to the happy hour menu as we were bar-hopping. The beer list rotates, but they seem to stock heavily in stone and flying dog beer. I saw a smattering of random stuff from Yards to Boulevard to Ballast Point brewing companies. From the happy hour list, we had a Terrapin pumpkinfest, hofbau oktoberfestbier, gaffel kolsch, and the taco of the day which was chimi churri flavored. The beers were awesome, the taco was rather bland. A group next to us got the duck fat fries and they looked pretty good, but alas we wanted to hit up a few other bars. Service was also really good. Both bartenders were quick and on top of things. The decor was your average bal'more bar setting. Huge ceilings, kinda divey and old looking. Several TV's also allow you to catch a game if thats what you were into. I'd come back if I was in the mood for trying more exotic and distant beers and maybe try food off the real menu, but the taco was not a good indication of the food if that was the only thing I could use to judge them.
(3)
Patrick M.
Good beer. Lots to chose. Stone self righteous. Yum Good appetizers before the show.
(5)
Elsa M.
Since everyone gets the burgers, let me put ya'll up on game: next time you go, skip it just once and try a salad instead. I can hear you now and I don't want to hear: try it and THEN come back and thank me. I damn near licked the bowl of the Alewife Salad after I finished. Juicy chunks of chicken made their home on a bed of fresh mixed greens, asparagus, and crumbly light blue cheese. Pears lightly seasoned with cinnamon and candied walnuts added some crunch and a bit of sweetness. I paired my salad with a glass of Riesling, which made my lunch break absolutely perfect. I haven't had a salad that good in AGES! I was rushing from meeting to meeting and my server was beyond nice and accommodating to my tight schedule. There weren't a lot of people in there, but I knew that he had work to do as he and another employee were busy getting ready for dinner. Still, he was more than friendly and took the time to explain everything on the menu, which I appreciated. I know Alewife is all about the beer, but the smells of good times and spilt beer overwhelmed me a bit when I walked in. I wasn't expecting it to be that strong in the middle of the day. Eventually I got used to it, but that was my only deduction in stars. I totally get why others (less picky than I, I suppose) gave it five.
(4)
Rochelle M.
Currently in town for a business trip. This place is a MUST for anyone visiting. A very large selection of different beers. Even though I don't drink any, they also have some cider. I highly recommend the Original Sin Cider Elderberry. For atmosphere, it has a cozy pub feel. Clean with an ambiance of a laid back local place. The servers are awesome. The one my friends and I had was a gal named Sarah. She was very attentive to our needs and well knowledgable on the different brews and menu items. The place is a bit above moderate prices, but the food is excellent. Had the empanadas as an appetizer that was delicious that came with a yummy arugula salad and black bean mix. For my entree, I had the fish tacos that had sweet potato fries that first had taken me aback, but worked really well. I normal end up getting the remainder of my food to go, but I finished every last bite. The menu has a decent but small variety of items, but very diverse for people of all needs. My vegetarian friend had the vegetable ragout that looked very good and apparently was because he finished all of it. I'm here for a few more weeks and will be visiting again.
(5)
Jordan M.
Had a beautiful experience here in a crazy snowstorm - the waitress on duty, Elise, was friendly and communicative during this winter armageddon and the food and drink was excellent. They stayed open with a smile in a blizzard and provided a fantastic and chill environment to weather the storm. I Highly recommend Alewife !
(5)
Jodi A.
-4 stars for atmosphere, easy. Maybe even 5 stars for atmosphere. -1 star deduction for making our meal feel incredibly rushed, despite the place being relatively quiet/empty. We had drinks, appetizers and dinner for 2 and were out in less than 45 minutes
(3)
Michael Z.
Overwhelmingly mediocre complimented with abhorrent service and outrageous prices. After I had consumed my $9 and $7.50 beers, which were good, but hardly worth the price of a 6 pack of specialty crated or imported beers. My friends received equally subpar service with their $10 coke and jacks (weak) and $10 margaritas which were made so slow that I could feel my beard growing (also weak). Luckily they were strong enough and I was inebriated enough to go without noticing that I had sat at my table for 15 minutes as I spoke with my friends. After ordering I had waited for well over 30 minutes, near 40, (keeping in mind it is dead) for my food which was unimpressive to say the least. Which, of course, I still could not eat due to the fact that half the table was missing dinnerware. I ordered the gumbo and received a Luke warn plate with uncooked rice. The same can be said for 3 other people at my table. I was able to speak to my waitress after 5 minutes and order new food. After another 10-15 I received my dish finally properly prepared and had finished and sat for another 5-10 before my other friends had received their replacement meals, the smoke burger... Which should have been chicken. After being here for 3, yes THREE, hours we had finally received our checks. Which the 10 of us had received in a pile and had to sort through ourselves. Only one of the 4 of us with botched orders had some effort of compensation for their terrible service. After paying the check, cards and bills were improperly matched and charged wrong. I'm exhausted, I'm done, I'm paying and cutting my loses and never coming back. If you heat your home by burning money and love going places to be ignored and charged steep prices for something you can prepare at home in half the time for a quarter of the cost, then this is the place for you.
(1)
Colleen D.
I think my husband and I fell in instant love with this place. It's in easy walking distance to the pier and touristy downtown but doesn't seem to be primarily a tourist destination. The ambiance is nice- warm wood, rustic and casual, but definitely clean and fun. There are a few TVs (showing the Ravens game, of course), and huge chalkboard listings of the beers on tap to supplement the huge menu of offerings. I'm going to come out and say it- I'm not a beer person. I've tried, and I like to experience new beers, but I'm still not that into it. I do, however, appreciated quality and I was impressed by the offerings of crafted brews. My husband (who IS the beer snob) was over the moon with it all. I stuck with the house cocktails, trying the Re-Root: a rootbeer liqueur with vodka and Baileys... It was the perfect adult rootbeer float with a nice, sharp kick to it. The cocktail selection is unique and varied and I'm excited to go back and try more.at What I was most excited about was the menu. We're new to the area and I'm always suspicious of the quality of vegetarian offerings. Alewife nailed it! No sad wilted salads and pasta primavera for me. I had an amazing grilled cheese (goat milk cheddar, arugula, an tomato jam) paired with a smoky, robust soup. It was like heaven. The menu also offers some delicious salad options, a black bean burger, truffle mac and cheese, and a stuffed chile relleno (which I plan on trying the next time in although the mac and cheese is mighty tempting...) They offer lunch and dinner menus. The prices are definitely worth the quality. The servers and staff are attentive, knowledgeable, an friendly. This is definitely going to be a spot of multiple returns and bringing friends and family to when they come visit the area!
(5)
Jonathan S.
I've been to Alewife many times and normally have a good time. They have a decent, ever-changing beer selection and excellent food. But the service is typically subpar, and my last experience there was terrible (see below). A group including myself were attending a 7:00 O's game, so we went to Alewife beforehand and were seated at 5:30. The restaurant was busy, but no more than usual. We waited 10 minutes for service, and put in our food orders at 5:40. At 6:30 (1 hour after we were seated) we were told the food would be 5 more minutes. It wasn't until 6:55, nearly 1.5hrs after we arrived, that the food came out. By then it was too late, and we had to leave without eating in order to make the O's game. The experience was extremely disappointing, as I have been going to Alewife for a number of years. Being busy is no excuse b/c 1) it is ALWAYS busy, and 2) three tables seated after us got their food 15min before us. The wait staff provided many excuses, but no solutions or apologies. I will not be back for a while.
(2)
Chris F.
Yummy food, quick service and nice ambiance. It can get a bit loud and boisterous, but it's a bar, so waddya expect? Fries are good, duck fat or not, burgers are good, fish is cooked right. Those that drink enjoy the beer selection. Love that they put invasive species on the menu. And they are yummy!
(5)
Kyle H.
Came here on our anniversary get away weekend. Bartender was super friendly. This place has great history and he told us all about it! My wife's phone was dying and he let her plug it in behind the bar! Fantastic service! We are IPA Fans and the Farmhouse IPA for Flying Dog and Baltimore Full tilt did not disappoint! Definitely recommend this place if you are in the area!
(5)
AM F.
Would definitely come back here again when in Baltimore. Very good beer selection and excellent smoke burger.
(4)
Brian P.
North Coast Old Rasputin - Imperial Stout. Unbelievably good. WOW. Smoke Burger with Duck Fat Fries for dinner. Awesome. Incredible beer selection for beer fanatics. Many, many on draught and tons of rare beers in bottles.
(5)
Marc F.
Sticky floors, surprisingly decent food, but portions way too small. So wanted to try the beer, but was here for lunch with work colleagues and had an important meeting afterward. Beer breath would have been bad. Ate the crabcake, which was tasty. But way too small for the oversized bun. Salad good too. Alewife must have had one heck of a crowd the night before. Floors sticky and place smelled like my college fraternity house on a Sunday afternoon--carelessly cleaned by a bunch of hungover pledges who put too much bleach in the way too dirty mop water. Assuming the beer wasn't skunked and the glasses are clean, if I could have drank, the sticky floors and small portions could have been overlooked. Because I didn't have the true alewife experience with good beer, my 2 star rating might be a bit low. BUT, don't be open for lunch in a district with lots of non drinking hospital staff. Perhaps better at night as an actually bar or a place for happy hour?
(2)
Modyssey G.
Not impressed. I came here after seeing "The Book of Mormon" at the Hippodrome with my parents and my boyfriend. Our waiter was nice enough, albeit a little snooty, but whatever. The food was sooooo unimpressive. I had read the Yelp reviews about Alewife before going there, and I had read about the smoke burger. Unfortunately when I actually had the opportunity to go to Alewife, I didn't feel like eating a burger so I got some forgettable fancy schmancy grilled cheese and tomato soup. What a huge mistake. There was some nasty minty crap on the grilled cheese that completely ruined it. $12 and some change for grilled cheese and mediocre tomato soup. I admit, that was mostly my poor decision making, but my father and boyfriend ordered the oysters casino, and what a pathetic sight that was! 4-5 of the most measly oysters you've ever seen, fried down to nearly nothing, with a large amount of arugula to cover up how much you're getting ripped off. $16 each and you leave still hungry? No thank you! My mom liked her caesar salad well enough, but not enough to go back. I am a burger freak, but I don't think I'll go back, not even to try the smoke burger. So disappointing.
(2)
K. E.
Trying to check out local beers on my own without straying too far from my convention hotel -- this was a good find. It was too early for dinner, but I tried the chicken liver pate along with my beer selections, assisted by the friendly bartender. All good. Wish I could go back again! Thanks, Baltimore, you are treating a single lady from out of town pretty well.
(4)
A. C.
(11/21/2013) We've patronized Alewife many times over the years, it was a go-to place for gatherings on the west side, convenient to the Hippodrome, UMMS, State Center. We've always planned extra time knowing that the service is slow, but now we're done for good. Went in for lunch, had orders taken pretty promptly (4 Smoke Burgers, 1 Turkey Burger). Over the course of a full hour saw 2 tables receive and eat their food (Smoke Burgers even), pay their checks and leave. No one came to update us on progress or even apologize. When finally asked, the server said that a lot of people came in all at once. Duh, it's lunch time, be prepared. We finally just left and went to Nando's Peri Peri at Baltimore and Paca Streets; quick, friendly, oh, and I finally got to eat and it was delicious.
(1)
Erin H.
The duck fat fried are AMAZING along with the smoke burger that my husband ordered. I ordered the grilled cheese and I was pretty disappointed, the flavors were good but they were really stingy on the cheese so I ate all my husbands fries. = ) They have a HUGE beer selection and they even let you try a few if you are unsure of what type of beer you would like. The prices weren't bad but those fries are just beyond amazing. We will go back the next time we're in the area.
(5)
Carrie O.
I think that our visit tonight to Alewife easily qualifies as the disappointment of the century. We'd bookmarked this place a long time ago, impressed by the glowing reviews and the extensive beer/ale list, the declarations of the best burgers in town, etc. So it was to our intense disillusionment that the hype turned out, indeed, to be all hype. We arrived at 7pm on a Saturday night, fully expecting to wait for a table (our reservation was for 9pm in anticipation of this), but to our surprise, we were seated right away. The decor IS impressive, I will say that - the old space was renovated nicely and it does look classy. And the service was on point - our waitress was friendly and accommodating, though not overly so. Unfortunately, that's where the praise for Alewife ends. The food was just... sigh, I can't even begin to describe how let-down we felt. LoML ordered the chile relleno plate, and to our shock, they brought out one sad-looking, medium-sized pepper on a bed of tomato sauce and corn niblets. That's IT. For sixteen dollars, you would have THOUGHT he'd at least get some rice on the side. But, nothing. Absolutely nothing. He was still hungry after eating that sad looking thing, and it's no wonder. I felt so badly that I offered to get him something else! (For what it's worth, he said that the flavor was excellent, absolutely divine - it was simply just not ENOUGH.) I ordered the "famous" smoke burger and fries platter - and let me tell you something, if THIS is considered Baltimore's "best" burger, people simply need to get out more. The chipotle sauce was the ONLY thing that set it apart from other burgers that I've had - in honesty, I told LoML that I could probably make a better burger at home, and without the steep price tag, to boot. The duck fat fries were, in a word, atrocious - neither of us liked them at all. LoML had two specialty drafts, one of which he enjoyed and the other he did not. I had a specialty cocktail, the Ginger Grant, which I thought was VERY weak - it was so watered down that I didn't even get a buzz from it, and I have alcoholic drinks maybe once or twice in a blue moon, so trust me - if I didn't get buzzed, there was little to no alcohol in it. We paid nearly 70 dollars with tip for our meal, and I consider it, unfortunately, 70 dollars wasted. To top it all off, I'm laying here feeling rather ill and I have a nasty feeling that Alewife's so-called "gourmet menu" might have a rather large reason to do with that. Needless to say, we will not be back.
(2)
Bob L.
Last night I met with a group for a business meeting at Alewife and it was the best experience I have had here. What made the night? Without a doubt it was the service. Josh was amazing. Attentive, prompt, present, and, yes, he knew the hell out of the beer he was tasked with serving. One of the things I love most about Alewife is their obvious passion for beer. I wanted to give Josh a chance to show me. For my first beer I just said, "Pick one for me." Not only did he nail the first choice with a unique Belgian IPA from Stone called Cali-Belgique he even offered me up a sample of a Flemish sour (a notorious least favorite style of mine) from Allagash called Vrienden. I'm not a sour convert, but it actually wasn't bad. The hits kept coming after that with a Dogfish Head Midas Touch bookended with a Wyerbacher Simcoe IPA. Stunning brews, every one. For dinner all four of us ordered the smoke burger and, as expected, it was gut-busting brilliance. I'll keep this one short and sweet. This experience was exactly what I've been craving from Alewife and thanks to Chef Chad and Josh for making it happen. Cheers!
(4)
Steve S.
For a long while this was one of the few places really close to the Hippodrome for pre-show dinners, and even though there have recently been some new options opening in the area, this is still a favorite for most. Their beer list is extensive, and always includes at least a few seasonal options, and interesting brews that are not easily found elsewhere (be sure to try their wide variety of pumpkin ales, if visiting in the fall). The menu is consistently pretty good, and mostly made up of more upscale versions of traditional tavern food. The mac & cheese, mussels, and honey-sriracha wings are always favorites. The shrimp & grits, and wild boar sliders, should probably be skipped. The restaurant is located in an old bank building, with really cool architecture and 2 story ceilings. Biggest point of advise: Make sure to make reservations if you want to dine, as the place fills up & gets crowded (almost uncomfortably so), especially on show nights! The hightop table next to the front window is easily the best seat in the house. Or ask for one of the balcony seats for the best people viewing! I have never not gotten the table of my request when reserving on "opentable.com".
(4)
Heidi R.
The smoke burger and duck fat fries were maybe the best burger I've ever eaten. And the fries were fantastic!
(5)
Nicole L.
I've been to Alewife a few times. Friday nights are madness, especially if there is a performance at one of the local theatres. The extensive selection of beer is fun to play with, but my favorite thing about the restaurant is the burger! So good!
(4)
D Q.
Ask for your correct change. Ordered one drink at the bar, ask to pay for it, got a receipt for $7.63. I gave $10, the bartender slapped down $2 change and walked away... hate places that do this, it's incredibly insulting to your customers' money and patronage.
(3)
Helen C.
My friends and I got dinner here to celebrate being done with our first exam - I think this was the perfect place for that! It was such a fun place to be, especially because Monday is trivia night. We were awful at trivia, but it was still fun to try. Everyone liked their food, and a bunch of us ordered the smoke burger. I personally wasn't a huge fan just because there was too much meat and patty was so thick, but of course this appeals to some people and it's all a matter of personal taste. Our waiter was very accommodating of us - a large group of 10 - so I really appreciated that. Overall, I would come back again, definitely for drinks.
(4)
Neelam P.
Nice selection of beers from all around...happy hour until 7pm.
(4)
Britt E.
Great beer selection. Cool atmosphere and vibe. Found the food a bit lacking. Fish tacos didn't have much fish, didn't include a side. Mahi Mahi, was delicious, but portions were skimpy. Only accompanied by salsa and 4 skinny pieces of asparagus. Burger was excellent. Apparently this is what most people order.
(3)
Amy P.
This is a great place for a beer, everyone knows that. It's never crowded, and the hipster-looking dudes at the bar tend to be nice. I've had the burgers and they are awesome, but my favorite is the truffle mac and cheese. The guyere and truffles...with a nice IPA makes for a perfect weekend afternoon. It can get a little loud when they decide to crank up the music or the game, but that's just me being old and cantankerous. My only word of caution is to skip the yucca fries, but that may just be a personal preference. I don't like yucca. They keep their menu updated with new offerings, just like the taps. It is right across from the Hippodrome so be careful on which night you do. But do GO!
(4)
Herman C.
Awesome burgers and a huge list of craft beers. Will come back! The duck fat fries were nom nom
(5)
Rick L.
Wow great place and stellar beer selection. I stayed at The Kimpton Monaco so it was about a 3 block walk. Read the reviews from fellow Yelpers and decided to make the trek I had the smokehouse burger and it was perfect. Extensive draft beer selection....let the bartender know your style and they will point you in the right direction. Bonus...great tunes!
(4)
Ed W.
The Smoke Burger was cooked perfectly. We had one cooked medium and one medium rare and they were executed just as they should be. For only a few dollars more than a burger at any other restaurant, here you get a far superior product. The bacon, cheese, and bun shared the same quality. Nothing was overlooked here. My only complaint was the lack of domestic beers. I don't care who you are, sometimes you just want a Bud Light.....
(4)
Jessie H.
We have been here a few times now, and I have enjoyed it every time. Unfortunately, if tonight would have been my first night at the Alewife, I would never return. Everyone ordered their meals. An entree salad came out in 10 minutes for the first person. My mussels came out in about 15 minutes. The burgers, steak, & calamari came out in about 50 minutes. It wasn't even very busy. And I was not sure why everything was spaced out. My mussels were definitely lacking "muscle". They were very small & "stringy", if that makes any sense. Additionally, i was barely given any "wine sauce" with them, and some toasted pieces of white bread. I could barely get through half of them, they were that unappealing. Husband had the steak. It was probably 1/8 of an inch thick, cooked medium (why this took 50 minutes, not idea). The sweet mashed potatoes had a horrible flavor and I couldn't even enjoy the asparagus. I think he did enjoy the steak, itself, but in no means was it worth the $$. My friend got the calamari, that honestly looked like they only brought out about 1/2 of it. And yes, that was cold too (reminder 50 minutes!). To top it all off, our waiter was quite aloof. Definitely thought he was the bus boy, that had no personality and honestly could care less if we enjoyed our evening. It was a nice night out with friends & we were running late to a show so we didn't even feel like complaining. Although, I left feeling ripped off for paying $65 for a meal we didn't enjoy. At least the wine was good! The only silver lining. I am really hoping this was a one time occurrence, because I would love to return.
(1)
Wes J.
This is a great place for a burger and beer. I had the Smoke Burger, which was very thick and I ordered well done. I was not disappointed. The cheese, bacon, and onions were great, although a little overshadowed by the enormous amount of beef in every bite. It was a really good burger, but if the meat were a bit more tastier, it could have been a great burger. The crowing achievement of this place was the incredible variety of beers. I am from the West Coast and so I am accustomed to a very good beer selection at almost every place I go, so I was very pleased to peruse the full menu page of beers on tap and two pages of bottled beers had top names from all over. Just to mention a few, Dogfishead from Deleware, Rogue from Oregon, and San Diego's Stone, who for my money puts out the best quality product with everything their name touches. So to see Arrogant Bastard, Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, and Old Guardian listed here, made me smile. The atmosphere was a little loud, but it seemed like a fun crowd. We were there for dinner and didn't stay to see the place get crowded, but it's not hard to imagine it to have a very lively night life. I would definitely come here agian.
(4)
Dixon M.
I went to the Alewife with a friend, and we both loved it. The place was very busy, but service was still friendly, efficient and very accommodating. Both of us ordered smokeburgers, and they were fantastic. Cooked exactly to our specifications. The fried were also wonderful. I was curious about beer cocktails, so I ordered a Hop Betty. It was delicious: a citrusy, hoppy concoction. I would definitely visit the Alewife again!
(4)
Liz M.
Got in here around 7:00pm before one-minute plays at EMP. We were asked if we had reservations which I still think is weird for a pub. It was slammed in there, but we inched our way to bar stools next to a couple that I'm pretty sure were doing CPR incorrectly. We got the mussels which some people have said weren't great. These were okay. Nothing remarkable, but they definitely gave us a lot to eat. I got the catfish tacos which were great. The texture from the fried sweet potatoes was needed after the fish was dressed to a soggy mess. Despite having only three tacos on the plate, I was stuffed afterwards. Obviously, people go for the beer. They had a good list of good breweries, but I just wasn't in love with which brews they chose on draft. I should've looked at the bottle list, but after a stout I moved to the mixed drinks. I missed out on the Bacon Bloody Bry(i)an, but everything else was tasty. I really liked this place. It's not in an ideal location, across from the Hippodrome, but I would swing by if I was in the area.
(4)
Tim M.
Stopped in here on a Sunday afternoon before a concert at the Arena. Had the duck fat fries, and the duck confit along with a Dogfish Indian Brown. It's interesting decor - might have been a bank at one time - there is a private table in what appears to have been the vault once. I bet this is a hot spot at night. Wife had the smoked tomato soup and grilled cheese. This is NOT your average pub food - everything has a slight upscale twist. Duck fat fries come with sriracha mayo. Service was good and so was the food - duck confit is pricey $22 for a leg & thigh with 4 spears of asparagus and some risotto. A bit high if you ask me. I'd go back - but I'd rather go if they were located in Annapolis. Baltimore and this location - are a pit. I wouldn't be there after dark myself. Reported not remotely humbly this day, D. Food Snob, PHD.
(3)
Rob N.
Alewife makes great use of it's dramatic bar space. Originally a bank, then insurance company, the tall ceiling and huge amounts of wall space are wisely occupied by monster menu boards, original windows, and a dramatic bar. The food and beer menus are just as dramatic. Forty draft selections, and many more in bottle. Hearty gastropub creations fill both the dinner and lunch bills of fare. Now, I didn't have the famous smoke burger, but I did have a huge serving of duck poutine (duck fat fries, duck gravy, shredded duck, and cheese curd) and s pretty respectable shrimp and grits. The poutine was rich, perfect for sharing with the table, and full of bad-for-you goodness. The shrimp and grits contained some sizeable shellfish, decent cheese grits, if a bit solid - I like my grits creamier, and this was like a heavy polenta. To finish, it was topped off with a tangy, slightly spicy, beer-based barbeque sauce. The beer list is posted on the aforementioned giant menu boards running up to the ceiling on the wall facing the bar. Draft selections change regularly, so it's never a bad idea to ask what seasonal brews are available - they might not be back for a while once they're gone. The noise level can get up there, so keep that in mind. Still, it's a good pour-house with a competent kitchen.
(4)
Joe K.
Back again! And let me tell you a little about my experience. Because of the most recent Google Offers on Alewife, me and some friends secured $50 in food for $25, the only catch was the fact that it couldn't be used for lunch, or before 8pm. One per-customer"table" was allowed. Which made attempting to use this a little harder than it should've been, i even had a friend attempt to use it when he proposed, but they declined him because of the time he entered the establishment. We all sat separately at the bar, but that wasn't good enough for our waitress, as I practically had to plead my case to about using the offer separately. She was nice enough to allow the exception, so long as she got a kick back from it, though I am not a bad tipper she said," you would've paid me well anyways... ," let me feeling uncomfortable before the meal started. The tap list here is second best in the city, and has most beers on or around average prices with Max's Tap house. 60+ total taps and a full bar are still offered. I took a lot more time to choose through their menu with my extra "credit" I had, for starters I went with their Calamari. Which was prefect, and in the running for some of the best I have ever had. For my entree, Shrimp and Grits. I loved the grits, cheesy but not too cheesy with the right texture. The shrimp were huge and plentiful, but leaving the body of shrimp added a nice appearance, but wasn't too pleasant when biting into a left over hard pieces. I would've normally been fine, if there was light to tell what was what in the sauce. Overall good dish. And for dessert a lemon tart, though small it packed a ton of flavor and was light and palatable. All of this, two beers or so, and I hadn't filled my entire credit ($50), I was reminded by an exhausted waitress about how I promised to spend more than $50, some time when we first spoke. A shot of Black Label later and I was barley over $50 by $3 ; which is a great value most of the items I ordered were the most expensive meals on the menu and same with beer. Customer service was fast and good when serving, and not soo much behind the bar. The food was excellent, as always ; and the atmosphere is everything I would want in a gastropub, 3 stars.
(3)
Sherris M.
Went here for an early Father's Day treat with the hubby. He read about it in the City Paper *hint, he finds most of our "spots" this way* Food great, atmosphere....LOUD...especially if it is game day (which it was on yesterday). The specialty drink I had, was the Great Gatzke was ehhhh. I wanted the Ginger Grant, but they didn't have any more basil (one of the key ingredients), the waiter said they could replace it with mint. Er-ummmm, basil v. mint. ummmmmmmmm, I'm going to go with NO!!! Never had the drink so I would at least like to taste what it's SUPPOSED to taste like before you go messing with it. The Great Gatzke was a'ight. I did order a 2nd, but that was because I had a nice "vodka" buzz from the first. Beer drinkers, they have an extensive Draft and Bottled selection, not really a beer drinker but I was impressed with all the options. Food came pretty quick. Starters were the mussels and grilled asparagus salad....both YUMMO. Entrees were Bluefish Tacos and a SmokeHouse Burger with a side of Fries, fried in Duck Fat. My 2nd experience with Duck Fat Frites, not as good as B & O Brasserie, but they were ok. After the game let out it got SUPER crowded. There was a William Donald Schaefer look alike standing in the entrance waiting for a table and then he, his head and his butt was next to my shoulder....THANKFULLY it was time to go. Would I go again, absolutely. We had a reservation and I would suggest you make one too, lest you have your butt on some poor unsuspecting diner's shoulder.
(4)
Jack R.
Mussels: disappointing in the extreme. I came to Baltimore and ordered seafood; the seafood I ate would've been sub-par if I'd ordered it in Nebraska. The broth was weak , there were a share of bad mussels on the plate, and they just didn't taste that good. On the other hand, the meat of the Smoke Burger was delicious. The burger in its entirety was pretty good, but needed *something* else. I tasted the delicious meat, but tasted little else, and it wasn't such an enormous patty that it was substantial in its own right. The beer selection is a positive, but not stunning for a place that markets itself as a specialty beer place. At Alewife the meal I had just didn't feel like it justified its price.
(2)
Will R.
Loved it. Great food and great beer selection. Place was very cool and servers were very cool. I wanted to go back, but there were too many options! If you like to eat and like to drink beer, go here Duck fries are always a treat
(4)
Mark M.
Wow. The neighborhood was really sketchy, but this place is great. We had a great time. Had reservations, but got there a bit early and found seats at the bar. Great beer selection and cocktails for the wife. Great food and wonderful atmosphere, everyone was so nice to us. I had the smoke burger, my wife had the mussels after we split an app or two. Had planned on going to Brewers Art next, but had so much fun here, we never made it. Maybe next trip.
(4)
Justin W.
First of all, their beer list is amazing. However, it comes at a cost. I found their beers cost on average $2-$5 more than some other places. Of course, they have a bigger selection including things you can't get elsewhere. Their house cocktails all sound very interesting and the sips of them that I have had were quite good. Again, they come at a cost, but not too much more than you would expect. The food was consistently good...if you can find what you want. I am not picky and am perfectly content with a hamburger. $15 for a hamburger may be a lot, but it is always good. I found that on most occasions, it was cooked more than I had asked, but I never minded since it was still good and juicy, which I care much more about than how pink it is or isn't. The fries were also consistently good The bites of the other food again has been good, but they have a small selection. It got better last time I was there, but I would hesitate to take a picky eater there unless they see the menu first. The atmosphere is first rate. I really like the style they chose and the feel of the place. I do not know if it just coincidence, but every time I have gone recently, it has been trivia night. I tend to not care and ignore it but it could get annoying for some. I do not know when they have it so check first if you care.
(4)
Johanna B.
Mussels are tasty, good selection of beverages. Smoke burger and artichoke hearts were edible. Wouldn't go out of my way for the place, but i wouldn't kick and scream having to come if we were in the neighborhood.
(3)
Faith A.
We ended up here post Orioles game as we were hungry and wanted something within a shorter walking distance from our hotel due to the massive heat that the area was experiencing. I found it online, it had some decent reviews, and it was close, and we were able to make a reservation, that made this seem like a simple choice for us. In retrospect, I am not happy with this as I feel like Baltimore had a lot more better choices probably for us to experience and enjoy. Great beer selection, but myself or my husband were really not intro drinking that evening. I can see why some people may like it for that. The hostess was not the most friendly of individuals at all so that started things off a little bad. The food was just "okay"... I had a salad and it really somehow did not match up with the description as it had some items on it not listed that I had to eat around. Their menu seemed a tad overpriced for a lot of the entrees too. I wish that they had some of the lunch menu choices on their dinner menu as they were more in line with what someone is looking for post game or in the heat. With all of the choices in the area, we will not be back on our next visit to the area.
(2)
Korrin B.
Not likely to return. The waitress was not the friendliest person, they didn't have three of the four beers we asked for and the "vegan" black bean burger had no bun. I was not told this before ordering it, otherwise I would have just gotten a salad. Very lackluster. Cool atmosphere, though.
(2)
Justin K.
My wife and I finally had a chance to get here after making several attempts and just never following through with plans. We took some out of town friends here that were staying at the Hilton. It was around 7 pm Saturday and we were waiting for our friends to come down so that we could go and I thought I should call and see what the wait is like. Upon calling the girl was very helpful and actually stated that we could get a reservation at 7:45. SWEET! We around at about 7:30 where the same girl who helped us was dealing with some rude old broad stating she needed to see the place they were going to eat at before she would eat there and that her husband is getting frustrated. I hate broads like that. I believe my wife stated, "What a pathetic excuse for a woman, hiding behind her husband like that." Ouch. The people that walked in before us were told that it was an hour wait with no reservations and then we were seated immediately. NICE; great customer service on their behalf for accommodating us like that. It was truly appreciated. The Beer Menu. One of the main reasons I wanted to come here was the Beer list, (the second was the burger and I will get to that in a minute). To me the draught list was a little lack luster. They did have 21st Amendment on tap and some Stillwater brews. But not a ton else that floated my boat personally. (Yes, they had dogfish on tap.) I was disappointed...UNTIL I turned to the Bottle list. BAM!! That was a great list of brews. I went with the 21st Amendment Brew Free IPA and a Stillwater Stateside Saison (this is an awesome farmhouse ale, one of the best out there in my opinion). Both were delicious. Out friends had a Dark and Stormy and the Sangria, both stated they were very good. The Food. This is where I personally went wrong and not the restaurant. I ordered the Cubano sandwich. I know, I didn't order the burger and it was one of the reasons were there! I wasn't sure if I could handle it because I was just getting over that awful stomach bug going around. My wife DID order the burger and offered half to me because it was huge! The Cuban was honestly not that good. In fact it wasn't really a great Cuban at all. However, the fries were delicious, especially with the chipotle aioli. Now, wife gave me part of her burger and boy did I make an awful mistake by not ordering that. What a delicious burger and it melted in your mouth. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned and the brioche bun SET IT OFF! Next to the Hamilton Tavern this is the SECOND best hamburger in Baltimore. Sorry Alewife, Hamilton's is still the best...every time I think about the Hamilton Tavern Burger it is like food porn in my mind...IT'S THE PLEATS I SWEAR!! Moving on... Additionally I loved the ambiance of this place; low key, dimly lit, chill crowd, big open area with high ceilings and great background music playing. The high ceilings help control the noise level I believe. If you get a chance, definitely check out the vault which is right by the restrooms, it's pretty cool...this was an old bank after all. Here are a couple pointers...yes this place gets packed so make a reservation, otherwise you will have to wait for a table. If you didn't the bar is open and serves the full menu. Check out the bottle lists, there are a lot of rare beers in there and it is a solid list. Get the F-ing hamburger; you will be happy that you did. Overall, I loved this place. I gave it 4 stars because of the Cuban sandwich not being up to par with the rest of the food. The service was outstanding and so was the beer list. I will definitely be back to get that burger again because I am still cursing myself for not getting it while I was there. Stupid ME!!
(4)
Jen W.
I love the building and the space! I love that they re-purposed the building to be used as a restaurant. High ceilings, stained glass windows, dark wood and influences of neo-classical elements. You won't be able to miss the large glass window (former entrance) that marks the building's facade. That very same window became our seating location. it is the brightest spot in the restaurant and a great perch for people watching (outside and inside). Our lunch consisted of the lunch menu items including the creamy tomato soup served with a grilled cheese made with brioche. The soup was served in its own teapot and dispensed in a soup bowl at the table. Very nice touch! We both enjoyed the duck fat fries which were not really crisp, thin potato fries fried in duck fat and then dusted with sea salt and herbs. They were nice and not very greasy, it almost tasted healthy. If you order the fries separately, they come out in this huge paper cone. Plenty to share! We also ordered the shrimp po boy. It consisted of medium-sized shrimp breaded and fried then sandwiched between a roll and smeared with a spicy remoulade and shredded lettuce. Our lunch was tasty, comfort, pub food. The service was efficient and pleasant. This looks like a great place for drinks (there is a huge beer selection on tap-look at the huge chalkboard) and dinner, pre- and post-theater. I'd like to return for drinks and try a few more things off the menu which looked interesting.
(4)
Vicky D.
The smoke burger is the single most delicious burger you could ever order in Baltimore. Sure, it's $15 and takes about half an hour but it is amazing and comes with duck fat fries (which are like $8 if you order them on their own anyway). The patty is always cooked to perfection, and the burger comes standard with cheese and bacon. I have tried a few other things there and they were all pretty good, but the burger is definitely the star of the show. They have a great selection of beers, too. They can be pricey, but they can also be up to 13% alcohol (that's the highest I've seen, at least).
(5)
Nicole S.
I would agree with some of the other reviews- the location is ghetto across the street from the Hippodrome. I have eaten here twice and had a good experience both times. The duck fat fries and the fried artichokes were delicous. My boyfriend really likes the burgers. The wings are not spciy at all- so I wasn't a huge fan- but if spicy isn't your thing then you would probably like them. The crab cakes were also really good served with a fried green tomato. Tavern like atmosphere in an old building with historic touches. The service is about what you would expect at a place like this. They brought you what you needed in a fairly timely manner, nothing more nothing less. I would recommend this place for a casual dining experience.
(3)
Thomas J.
Good food and a great selection of draft beer.
(5)
James P.
Excellent collection drafts and bottles, plus the food is fantastic! The waitstaff was very helpful and knowledgeable on all the selections.
(5)
Dominique F.
Came here with a few coworkers and really enjoyed the plalce. The menu offers a variety of food including a ton of burgers, a salmon sandwich, mussels etc. Plus, they have a different menu for after 10PM. What makes this place special though is the variety of beer options they have that change regularly; would definitely be back!
(4)
J. M.
It seemed more like a bar that gave birth to a restaurant than the other way round. Once on trivia night it made for a fairly enjoyable experience but that was just drinks. The overly excitable dorky d00d who seemed to be in charge of it, provoked ambivalent feelings over his seemingly rare but frantic experience of leadership. On my second and what is likely to be my last trip, the food failed to live up the threat of quality that the reviews seem to communicate and was borderline edible. A botched burger for me, and a forgettable sandwich for my friend left us thinking that perhaps it was best to avoid lingering over half-eaten plates. Soft music masked the silence, light was bursting through the glass doors/windows and left the empty furniture bathing in complete vacancy. It brought a transient wistfulness to the whole affair. The incomplete conversation. The abandoned food. And the abrupt departure left the bar empty once again with ghosts and staff peopling its booming halls.
(4)
Nate M.
Not only does Alewife have a great beer selection, but they also have some delicious food. They have a lot of beers (just like Max's) but their beer collection seems to vary less over time. Not a bad thing- they still have a huge number of choices available. The food is delicious, and you can't go wrong with anything you order (even if it might cost a bit more than you would expect). Unfortunately there isn't much else near Alewife- but that shouldn't stop you from going! You're fine walking around at night, just don't wander too far in certain directions. Also, be careful not to try to walk up the center steps to enter the building- its a trick and the real entrance is on the right side at ground level.
(4)
Stephanie M.
Alewife is a great little spot near the Hippodrome and it stays open late for the night owls like me. I've walked past this place so many times thinking it was just a pub, but the food here is pretty good. I have ordered their black bean burger and veggie wrap and both are really good. My friend loves the duck fat fries. Their draught beers are pretty yummy. My waitress suggested one for me (cherry ale or something) and although I can't remember the name of it, it was delicious!
(4)
Aaron W.
Great beer choices and outstanding smoke burger! The atmosphere is great and service is generally very good. The smoke burger is outstanding. They also have flight options with their beers which is very nice. Also, the smoke burger is outstanding.
(4)
Chris N.
Smoke burger and a Live Free IPA. FOODGASM. A must stop In Baltimore after an O's game.
(5)
Robin K.
Originally gave this place a 1-star review due to poor staff. I thought I 'd give them another chance since the burger was so good. To my surprise, the new waitress there was more bubbly and friendly. Kudos to management making the necessary changes. My last visit was definitely a 4-star experience at minimum. Averaging the two scores, I'll leave it as a 3 for now.
(3)
Pascal P.
I tried Alewife out after they had coupon on Google deals. The food here is tasty but not really special enough to warrant the high prices. Like most people I gave their smoke burger with duck fat fries a try and it was quite good. The meat was flavorful (although not that juicy for a medium-rare burger) and the bun it came on was significantly better than average. The fries weren't very crisp though, and while they were very tasty when hot they were very greasy and became unappealing after just a few minutes of cooling down. This was a good meal, but $15 is quite a bit for a burger and in this case I don't think it was worth it. If you're looking for a bar with a lot of good beer on tap then Alewife is certainly worth visiting. Prices were a little high for Baltimore but they had a selection of drafts that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Service was prompt and friendly, and the interior of the building is cool looking. If the food were a bit cheaper I'd give Alewife four stars, but right now there's other brew pub food to be found for much lower prices.
(3)
Corey M.
Can I get a witness! Church! A church indeed; Alewife is a beautifully renovated house of god. And if the man upstairs wanted to have anything, it's a delicious gastropub for all your gluttonous and sinful needs. A long and colorful selection of beers can been seen artfully displayed on a chalkboard hanging up high on the wall. No happy hour, but more than reasonably priced booze. Loads of great options for food. Somethings they were out of or weren't serving due to the quality of the ingredients. I appreciate that. It's nice to know the chefs/bartenders are looking out for you! Great and super personable server. Perfect post inner harbor experience. Already recommended to friends. And what's the best part? You're can do as the bawldymoreans do and mebbe 'lax by the wooder ron th' in'r habah!
(4)
J K.
Went for lunch on Sunday March 2 before our 1pm show at the hippodrome. Seated at 11:35 - fairly empty. Finally ordered our food from the inattentive waitress at 11:50. It was approaching 12:30 and we were getting nervous about our food. Others seated after us had ordered and finished eating. Asked waitress about it at 12:30, and she said she would check on it. Said that they were getting slammed - yes it got busy after we ordered our food. We wanted to meet the manager and we were directed to talk with the bartender who really didn't care one bit. "I'll check on the food," he said while not making eye contact and not doing anything about it. Food finally showed up at 12:45 which we wolfed down and paid and left. Staff were rude. Never offered to fix the situation. Never offered an explanation. So we were there for over an hour before we got our food. And almost late to the show. Majorly disappointing. The worst part is that the bartender and waitress didn't give one flying eff.
(2)
Jeremy M.
Smoke Burger. The burger was even better than expected, the beef is great, the temprature was slightly below my medium order, but that's the preferred miss, it was delicious. The smoky bacon, awesome. The cheese, drool inducing. Really, Really, great. Top 5 burger....ever. Duck fat fries...yes. Price for all that goodness $15, i think it's UNDERpriced! Nice beer selction, cool place, neighborhood is a bit "transitional" Service was less than world class which is why I couldn't give it 5 stars, but it's legit.
(4)
Maura g.
We made a reservation at 8pm Saturday, when we arrived we were greeted by a friendly hostess who was aware of the reservation and told us we had the "best seat in the house". She guided us to the staircase where we were stopped by a very nasty waitress who was extremely rude to the hostess and didn't want us to sit in her section because she didn't want any more tables. The hostess guided us back down the stairs and our "best seat in the house" turned into a tiny table on a shared bench right by the front door and cold air. Although the location was now pretty much the worst in the house, we may have been better off. Our waiter was very pleasant and knowledgeable about the on tap beers and was even able to find one I liked, someone that usually would avoid beer. We ordered the braised pork and the airliner chicken for our meals, but we're not impressed, neither were very good or even butchered correctly, however everyone around us that had bar food loved it and it all looked and smelled amazing. I will probably try the place again, but stick to the bar menu and avoid the nasty waitress who walked around scoffing at people the entire time.
(3)
Dan A.
Decided to come here for lunch the other day as I really wanted a beer (yeah, it's been that kind of a week haha). Heard good things about this place but never had the chance to check it out... Anyways, Alewife is located in the same building Lucy's Pub used to be in.... this is a good thing because the building is absolutely beautiful! I ordered the Smoke burger (medium done) there with duck fat fries ($3 extra) and a Dogfish Head My Antonia. For some reason the menu states that the smoke burger may take extra time to make... Not sure exactly why that is but just thought I'd throw it out there... Nevertheless, the food came out in a reasonable amount of time (15-20min). The portions looked small initially but it's actually quite filling. The burger came closer to medium-well than medium (there was no pink at all in the meat) but it was still very moist. A good amount of bacon was stacked on the inside and there was a slightly spicy aioli n the burger as well. Would have preferred a tad bit more of the aioli though as the flavor wasn't readily noticeable. Overall, it was a pretty solid burger, though it wasn't particularly amazing in my opinion. The duck fat fries were okay. They were a little bit on the saltier side of things and were a little thicker cut. I'd have preferred the thinner, crunchier duck fat fries from B&O Brasserie or Brewer's Art though. The beer list there was pretty substantial. Not as much as Max's in Fells Point but it was still a very solid list with many great craft options. The DFH My Antonia was a pretty solid beer to pair with the duck fat fries by the way. Unfortunately, the only problem here is that the food seemed a little overpriced here. My burger, duck fat fries, and beer lunch turned out to be $25 (NOT including tip)! Now, I don't mind paying a lot of money for food if the quality is good... And dont get me wrong, Alewife has good food.... But I didn't feel that Alewife's food deserved to command such a high price...especially considering you could get the all-you-can-eat steak lunch at Fogo De Chao for a few bucks more. My beer craving may have been satisfied....but I also left somewhat disappointed. 3.5 stars rounded down to a 3.
(3)
David Z.
Had a huge selection of draft and bottled beers to choose from. They let you sample the draft beers before choosing which made selecting easier. Ordered the smoke burger with duck fries and enjoyed every bite of it. Also, they played very chill music such as Sublime, RHCP, etc and had cool art displayed throughout the place.
(5)
Jack Straw S.
I was working at the convention center and was looking to escape and found myself walking towards the Hippodrome and there is the Alewife. Its a stinky alehouse that had a good beer selection but I was there to eat. I had the Smoke Burger with Duck Fat Fries. The Burger was awesome cooked to medium rare perfection, super juicy and great flavor in the meat and the bacon and cheese made it mouthwatering.....and it was huge. The duck fat fries sucked !!! They were cold and stale. I ate at the bar and it was not that busy and the bartender did not check on me once. I had to ask for my drink to be refilled(diet coke) twice. Overall I would go back for the burger sans the duck crap fries and certainly not for the service.
(3)
Kate F.
Incredible beer selection. We had the thai peanut wings to start, and the sauce that comes with them is just delicious. My fiance had the short rib, which melted in my mouth when I stole a bite, and I had the crab cake, which was paired well with a light salad. We also shared an order of the duck fat fries, and they were absolutely phenomenal. I can't say enough about the beer selection here. The bottle list is extensive and includes some extremely hard-to-find imports and limited releases. Drafts were also impressive, with a great mix of styles and flavor profiles. The only reason I'm giving this bar a 4-star review is the bar service. I waited at the bar for 10 minutes before I was asked if I'd like a drink, and it took an additional 10 minutes to get someone's attention to close us out. Not impressed.
(4)
Nancy K.
This place has horrible food. Three of us each ordered the smoke burger with duck fat fries, and all three of us were greatly disappointed. We all ordered the burgers to be cooked medium but they ranged from well done, to burnt, to charred. The fries were cold and dry, with hardly any duck fat flavor. To add insult to injury, my friend ordered a side of chipotle aioli (for 50 cents extra), and it basically tasted like nothing but mayo. My friend (who used to be a regular) suggested that they must have changed chefs. The one saving grace was that the bartender confirmed our suspicions and admitted that there was a new cook. He then recommended that we come back again (but only AFTER 4 pm). So if I ever do go back, I will definitely take that advice... but... as Yelp puts it: "Eek! Methinks not." NOM tip: Make sure you go when the evening cook is there... AFTER 4 pm!!
(1)
Katherine S.
We came in here for brunch this past weekend. There was noone else there so we had the place to ourselves. That said, we waited what seemed like an odd amount of time for our food. Maybe ours was the first order of the day, but we waited 40 minutes or so for our burgers. I had the smoke burger, which was great, but I don't know that it was a $15 burger. I also wasn't that impressed with how small the brunch menu was. All in all, this place was pretty unobjectionable, but I think the food is pretty overpriced, which would stop me coming back.
(4)
Emily L.
Alewife had SO much going for it when it opened. Gorgeously rehabbed interior. Hugely adventurous beer list. Inventive menu. Unfortunately, poor management and service have spoiled it for us (and those we know) a number of times, but still, the food and atmosphere make it worth visiting on "off hours" when it's not obscenely crowded. Their beer list is justly revered all over the city: 40 constantly-changing taps of extremely diverse varieties. Regardless of your tastes, and even if you think you don't like beer, you WILL find something you love here. If you are pretty open-minded and love beer, as I do, you will feel more than a little anxiety about trying to make a decision. We've never had a bad meal there, either. The burger, for me, is just okay, overwhelmed by all the toppings, and it's never cooked exactly the way we order it (sometimes too rare, sometimes overdone.) Their duck-fat fries are amazing, and get the fennel fries if they're in season. I almost always talk someone into splitting an Alewife salad with me for a first course: with chicken it could be a meal, but even without, the combination of nuts, cheese and fruit atop lightly-dressed greens is a perfect starter before a heavy entree. Calamari is great. Crab cakes are a little too gourmet for me; I prefer the old-fashioned variety with Old Bay and lots of fresh meat. Two entrees deserve their own paragraph: first, the Shrimp Po-Boy, which is prepared exactly the way they make them at the best Cajun dives in Louisiana. The bread is fluffy-chewy, and the remoulade spicy and creamy -- with shredded lettuce and lightly-battered crispy shrimp, it's an amazing meal. Second, the Kobe beef hot dog, smothered in buffalo chili and gouda cheese and served on a pretzel roll. I haven't been here for dinner in quite awhile, but I remember the Airliner Chicken, though it seemed steep, was worth every penny; the fish tacos were also delicious. The management and service problems? In short, they keep firing their best employees, from bar to kitchen. I don't get it, but the people I know who still work there tell me there's a lot of drama behind the scenes, from factions to personal grudges. The servers who are left are pretty inattentive; some don't know anything about beer (at a craft pub?!) and they're all pretty generous with eyerolls if you don't order enough food, ask for a substitution or want to change tables. I wish I could just stop going once and for all, but the food and beer are just too good! So: if you enter with low expectations on the service end, and don't mind a loud, crowded atmosphere, you could really enjoy yourself. Here's hoping they tap into their full potential sometime soon!
(3)
Guinevere N.
The interior is beautiful, the staff are kind and the food is delicious. Pricey, but fair given the quality and the variety. The beer list is high caliber if a bit lacking.
(4)
Kyla C.
Never been to Baltimore before so my only restaurant experience there was a good one. This place has a pretty cool vibe but the surrounding area is kind of dead, besides the theatre across the street. I ordered the burger with duck fat fries and it was delicious! The patty was substantial and it was super filling. The fries were awesome. The beer list was awesome as well. I tried three different drafts and there were all tasty. I would come back for the beer alone.
(4)
Rachel C.
The smoke burger really was amazing. I would come here again for the burger alone and for the vast beer selection, all reasonably priced. The mussels are okay, a little pricey for what they are, though they do come with the duck fat fries. A little red flag here: we assumed the mussels were happy hour price, as were our beers (referencing an online happy hour menu Alewife advertises). This was not the case. Only Heavy Seas products were, though our bartender failed to tell us this until we asked. Other than this little glitch, the service was excellent! Wonderful bartenders and super attentive. Can't speak on behalf of the wait staff but sitting at the bar and sampling beers is most likely the better option regardless.
(3)
Julie H.
I had the cider and the messels both were quite tasty
(4)
Beau C.
Great beer selection and a really cool building. Just beware: our lunch took forever! We were at a conference downtown and had an hour break. We did not make it. Really enjoyed the food: I had fish tacos which were yummy--good mix of flavors and textures. I was jealous though of the folks at the table who got burgers...they looked amazing. If you have time to kill, drop in and eat.
(4)
Kyle C.
My experience at Alewife was amazing. I went with my girlfriend and several of her friends. A few of us got there before the rest of the group and we were greeted outside by the hostess, she seemed to be on her smoke break but was incredibly hospitable and stopped to take us inside and had us quickly seated before the time our reservation for 8:15pm was set for (mind you the reservation was for 11 people). At most places I would've expected the employee to just pass us off to someone inside but I was pleasantly surprised she sat us herself...definite plus. The atmosphere inside was really relaxed and the waitress we had was fantastic. She gave us a good rundown on a few beers that were suggested as well as some food choices. I've seen other reviews on here complaining about the timing of food/drinks coming out and we didn't have anything like that during our time here. Like I said before, the waitress was serving 11 people and the drinks came out incredibly fast as did the food. She stopped by frequently enough to make sure we were always well taken care of and it was much appreciated by all of us. Now comes the food, it was absolutely as delicious as advertised. I had the smoke burger that came with a side of duck fries. It was everything I could have imagined and more. Everything was perfectly cooked and put together, and several of the people at the table who ordered the same were raving about it. If you want a relaxed, laid back lunch or dinner with great service, nice atmosphere and everything in between, come to Alewife.
Looking for an option for a good, somewhat reasonable priced dinner prior to the Anthony Bourdain event at the Hippodrome, the benevolent algorithm of Yelp pointed me toward this "upscale dining" tavern located right across the street from the show. Seeing the good reviews, and the very nice menu, I made reservations for 6:15, hoping to have a relaxed dinner prior to the 8pm start of the show. Good thing I did. We arrived at 6 pm, a bit early, but were seated immediately. The menu was placed in front of us, and someone brought us water. 10 minutes later we could finally order our drinks, when the waiter came around, took the drinks order, then walked away, not to be seen again for another 10 minutes. At that point came the first odd question of the night, to two people at a table with open menus "Oh, you want to order food too?". Why yes, yes, that is the intention. He takes our order of two smoke burgers and a starter of wild boar meatballs, then leaves. It is now 6:20. 6:40. Drinks arrive, the older couple at the table two down from us (who were there before us) finally gets to order their dinner, after the man stood up and has his first of 3 chats with the manager about the service. The server apologizes because "the bar is so busy tonight, it's unusual". Well, it is a theatre night, and your restaurant does bill itself as a "theatre restaurant" on the website, so there is that. 7:15. Our appetizers finally make it out. It's 4 meatballs, decent size, with some chili-limi sauced carrots and daikon. Tasty, but luke-warm due to sitting on the hot plate until they had all the orders together for the various (now about 6) semi-annoyed parties sitting in the smaller dining room and all those sitting in the main dining area. 7:30 - half an hour to show time. I intended to be on my way to the show now, so I pull the server over and rather forcefully tell him that we need our dinner soon since we have show tickets. Everyone else does the same. 7:35. Dinner is delivered to the table next to us, which walked in at 7:10, so I am about to go full Gordon Ramsey. My girlfriend smiles, and I keep just calm enough to spare the server and manager some choice words. 7:40. Dinner finally arrives. The smoke burger is delicious and comes with duckfat fries, which are also good. I ask for the check while we are eating, which pisses me off, but pales compared to the fact that we are now forced to have a good $15 burger and fries in the same time frame that one would take to have a $1 burger from a fast food joint. The server tries to redeem himself by offering us a free round of drinks, for which it is now much too late. 7:50. We have paid (he left the first round of drinks on the check but I did not have time to complain about that), we are leaving this restaurant. Fortunately half the remaining audience made the same choice, so Bourdain starts 10 minutes late. In summation, this is a Fells Point bar in a non-Fells Point setting with decent food but service that goes beyond utterly incompetent, especially when they get busy. 2 stars are given for food, .1 stars for the server's ironic attempt to redeem himself and his establishment. I will not be returning, nor ever recommend this restaurant to others.
(2)
Ashley A.
Worst service I've ever had. The wench bartender was more concerned about drinking with her friends then servicing customers.
(1)
Geoffrey C.
Alewife, oh how I stumbled upon thee. I was hungry after a concert at the arena and were looking for options to eat. Place was recommended on Yelp and I decided to go on a whim. Wasn't feeling American gastropub food, but really had no choice. Glad I went! In short, the smoke burger is succulent; the best burger I've ever had. Words can not describe how juicy and tasty it was. If you can imagine having sex with a burger, that was what I experienced. The melange of meat and soft cheeses makes for a delectable affair. I usually like my burgers pink on the inside and it was just right at medium. The duck fat fries, albeit unhealthy, were equally tasty. The soup was good as was their take on a chopped salad. Drink selection was top notch, but I couldn't care less. Service was great too. The smoke burger is the main event here fellas. Blended choice meat with gruyere and smoked gouda topped with a garlic aioli brioche bun!
(5)
John J.
Great beer selection..unfortunately I ordered the moules frites. My short lived experience with this order, out of the first 5 mussels 2 weren't even de-bearded, and the other 3 were cooked even though they were obviously dead. The bar staff wasn't concerned about this information , they simply told me no one else complained. Until they're sick tonight!
(2)
Danielle W.
This is our default post-play at Hippodrome stop. The decoration is artsy-contemporary-cool. I especially love the large paintings on the walls. Awesome beer selection - I think like 40 on tap and the food we've had has all been pretty impressive. I'm especially partial to the duck fat fries and the caprese salad starters. We'll be back and continue working our way though the menu!
(4)
Jesus O.
The "Smoke Burger" is absolutely delicious. The atmosphere is a bit Hipster which I don't particularly enjoy. Beer selection is pretty decent.
(4)
Tom N.
Alewife is a solid 4-stars for me. While they do offer a terrific and large craft beer list along with some pretty eclectic and tasty food dishes, the setting is not the coolest and the prices are usually pretty high. Overall, I come back here frequently (I live practically next door) but it's not one of my first choices.
(4)
Jennifer S.
Their selection of beer on tap is amazing. I ordered the black bean burger. It seemed like they made it fresh for me. Their duck fries are so good that even vegetarians will want to eat them.
(5)
Travis P.
We went here with a group of 8 people for lunch before and O's game. Let me start by saying that their smoke burger was one of the best burgers I have ever had! They also have a good craft beer selection. However, they don't have a light beer option and when asked about it our server was a little pretentious with her response. For some people, a light beer option is a necessity, so in my opinion, all bars and restaurants that serve beer should have at least one light beer option. Service was also a little slow, especially considering we were the first table to be seated that day, maybe they weren't ramped up yet.
(3)
christine j.
Definitely my go-to spot in downtown Baltimore. Their duck fat fries, thai wings, Smoke burger, huge beer selection keeps me coming back.
(4)
Ethan L.
Located not too far from the Lexington Market subway station Alewife is a place easy to miss. Entering though you are in a giant large ceiling building that has been redecorated and screaming new gentrified fashion, while still remaining old world charm. The patronage is diverse, and the place was very busy for a Tuesday night when I visited. Aside from one foul mouth racist drunk in the corner trying to stir things up (who didn't last long), everything here is quite comfortable and pleasant. The building and crowd reminds me a lot of the nice places I frequent to drink in DC, although the clientel in Baltimore is classic locals who are different from their nearby DC counterparts. Service is ok, some minor attitude but nothing you can't really fault. Beer selection here is a step up and also contains lots of good glassware to go with it. Didn't get to try all the food, but the fries in duck fat never fail, and the burger is rich if perhaps a little too rare but no major complaints. I really like the atmosphere of this place the most, it really feels and gives me an idea of what the residents of Baltimore look like and what their city has to offer, and the building is real nice inside. I will always keep this place on my radar when visiting Charm City.
(4)
Jon W.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect, though I have to say it was the menu that won me over. So my wife and I went there with high expectations, based on both the menu and the number of stars in it's yelp rating. What we got was a very uneven experience. I read several reviews praising the Smoke Burger, so I ordered that. On the whole I wasn't disappointed, though the caramelized cipollini onion wasn't really caramelized, though rather delicious all the same. The burger came as requested, Medium Well, and I have to commend them for it is one of the best burgers I've ever enjoyed. The applewood smoked bacon, however was exceedingly undercooked and was therefore removed from my plate as i find very undercooked bacon, a very unpleasant experience. The calamari, though overcooked, was tasty and enjoyable. when i first looked at it i was afraid that it was going to be excessively battered but the batter was actually pleasant and not overbearing. The wait staff is pleasant and friendly. The Mac and Cheese, frankly was a bit of a disappointment. It's basically a clean dish smothered in La Tourangelle Infused White Truffle Oil. Which is remarkably easy to overuse in any dish. It had lots of promise but simply did not deliver. Neither was my wife was not impressed with the blue catfish tacos, she found them a bit "insipid". Both of us thoroughly enjoyed the burger with duck fat fried potatoes and we would both return for the burger and the calamari. Provided that the bacon is properly cooked next time. 3 stars - only for the Smoke burger, which was the highlight of the meal.
(3)
Gene L.
This gets a 4 only because I haven't tried everything yet. We came here as a last stop for the night, so I haven't had the chance, or fortune, of trying the smoke burger. All the food we had from soups to fries were delicious. The service was great and good drink selection.
(4)
Jenn H.
So. This place is awesome! The service is on point. Every time I have been, the service is always über friendly, prompt, and attentive. The atmosphere: very sports bar scene but the most bestest part about this bar is the fact that they do not serve you up what I would consider, your typically prepared bar food. It has a gourmet flair and it is YUMMY! I mean the burger (with munster cheese, I think) was delish, the duck fat French fries were/always are so yummy :) Mmmm! Every time I go I HAVE to have them. Even my mom loves them and she doesn't even really do fries. But she eats mine every time :) The calamari was really good too. I got the salad which was prepared well. Very tasty. No complaints. And the crab cakes were good! Like really good! The mixed drinks were good too. They make a mean dirty martini. And the assortment of beers is just too much....in a good way of course. They have this huge chalk board on the wall with all the beers they have during that season. Bomb! And they are on draft! Bomb! Gotta love that. Outside of that, they have a pretty sweet beer menu that is just to die for. If you appreciate beer, you'll love this place. If you appreciate food, see comment above :) And if you love a live atmosphere for young professionals and sports fans alike, refer to above comment. I am a return customer and I recommend this place to friends :)
(5)
Justin S.
Great beer selection, must try the Kobe Hotdog on the pretzel roll. Amazing!
(4)
Ayon J. R.
Respectable collection of draught beer and decent food are the positives. Just don't go during dinner rush....some of he staff shows serious attitude when the place is busy.
(3)
Tim H.
Went last night with my wife and another couple before West Side Story at the Hippodrome. My wife made reservations last week and she received a very friendly call today reminding her of our reservation. We got there on time, but our friends were late and we couldn't be seated until our entire party was present. Seemed reasonable to me, although I was concerned because the restaurant was fairly crowded. But as soon as our friends appeared, we were wisked to our table. Some of less-than-favorable reviews I have read about the Alewife have to do with the service. This just goes to prove that the majority of one's experience stems from your interaction with the server. In this area, we lucked out. Susannah (who was sporting the sexy-librarian look yet never committed to the pull-out-the-hairpin-and-shake-out-the-hair-in-Âslow-motion thing) was spot-on. Appeared exactly when we needed her, didn't hover, was completely frank about what was good and what would be less than stellar, And we failed to trip her up when we quizzed her on the ridiculously huge beer selection...and we tried. Our food came exactly when it should have and we had plenty of time to get to the show. The food is interesting. Overall, the menu is fairly small, maybe a tad restrictive, but had enough of a selection to appeal to most any taste. We started with the meat and cheese platter. Chorizo, smoked salmon, Gruyere cheese, herbed goat cheese, tiny pickles, and whole grain mustard made for a great selection, but it was barely large enough for two, let alone four, people. And at $16, it was not a value. Between the four of us, we had the BBQ shrimp and grits, the Cubano, and Airliner chicken. Overall, very good. Grits were cheesy and creamy and the shrimp was tender and cooked just right. They were a bit over-sauced though. Could have been a little more delicate with the flavors and been more intriguing. But the rest of my party were very pleased with their entrees, although the portions were fairly small. Especially for the price. Whether or not we caught them on a good night, we were very pleased with the service and satisfied with the food. It was just a tad pricer than it should have been, especially when considering that the portions were small. But, overall, a good place to go before the show.
(3)
Brian A.
Great food, Great beer, Great staff and Great Atmosphere. The beer here is all top notch and the staff can give you a great education on each beverage and can help you find a beer that best suits you. The food is absolutely delicious and rivals one of my Favorite gastro-pubs in Baltimore, Hamilton Tavern. This a a beautiful space and enormous. Take the time to walk around and explore each floor while your venture through the extensive beer list. Be advised this is a little pricey for a gastro-pub but still reasonable. Also there are some TVs but still not a great place to watch a game.
(4)
Joe S.
What a great place to have a great beer and some really tasty food. Everyone writes about Alewife's smoke burger, but I went another route and had their airliner chicken dish...wow, what an explosion of flavor that left me wanting to order a second one. The service was also great, I had a dark, curly haired, beer professor as a waitress, I mean she really knew what she was talking about. Thank you for a great time.
(5)
Micah J.
Found this place randomly while searching YELP!! I loved the beer selection however, no Dogfish Head?? They have Dogfish Head 60 Min beer battered fish and chips but no actualy Dogfish Brews? (thats the reason for 4 stars and not five) For a place with such a great selection one has to wonder what is up with not having and DFH on tap or bottle. The building is really cool, its historic and there is some really great artwork on the walls. It is hipster for sure though. Hipster type indie music playing with a hipster crowd. I didnt mind though and everyone there was awsome and the staff was welcoming as can be! Very attentive making sure our beers were never empty. The food was great. I started with the buffalo chicken soup that was nice and spicey. I like spicey foods and my opinion of spicey is usually burning hot for others. So this was a moderate burn and held good flavor. I wish there was more chicken in it though. But its good and I would suggest it if you like hot/spicey food. The smoke burger got rave reviews on here and guess what, here is another one! This is one of the best I have ever had. The caramelized onions, the cheese, the bun the meat, everything about this badboy was just amazing. The duck fat fries with sea salt are a great side for this burger too. My wife had the kobe beef hotdog served on a pretzel hot dog roll with black bean chili and gouda cheese on it. It was amazing (obviously I took a bite or two) it did not even taste like a regular hot dog! Had a certian sweet flavor to it. Overall, make sure to check out Alewife. Great food, beers, staff, atmosphere and overall a great experience. We will be back next time we are down for a game! ****UPDATE!!!**** After writing this review I was personally contacted by the Executive Chef who assured me the reason for the lack of DogFish Head was due to a distribution problem and offered to buy me a DFH the next time I am in. Wow, what a class act. I have never had anyone treat a out of town customer in such a welcoming and honest way. I cannot wait to go back to Alewife now!!!!
(5)
S W.
Dropped in for lunch, it's a quite place at lunchtime. It also has a limited lunch menu. But, not to be disappointed, the burger is top notch. One of the best I've ever had. The burger is served with Duck fat french fries, fantastic. Service was great. Prices great also.
(4)
Ashley L.
I've been to Alewife several times as a late-night-dinner-but-mostly-drinks type of situation and really enjoyed it each time. Other people have mentioned that the food is a bit more expensive than you would expect, but I don't think it's unreasonable. The beer selection is amazing and they have an amazing fall-themed apple cider whiskey combo that I'm obsessed with. I like meeting friends from out of town for drinks there because it's like a polished version of Baltimore grit -- a fascinating combination.
(4)
Meghann R.
We stopped in Sunday afternoon after we walked over to Lexington Market, only to discover the LM is closed on Sundays. It was mid-afternoon when we were there, so pretty quiet, but I imagine it can be pretty lively at night. There is also a theater across the street, so if you're going to see a show this would be a good casual option. The full beer menu is not available for lunch, but there are still plenty of options. We split a sandwich and a shrimp appetizer. The appetizer was fabulous, it was like dim sum meets bar food!
(4)
Alex P.
Terrible. They broke my ID. Bad beer for 5 bucks
(1)
Michael H.
Great food and stellar service = happy customer. Call it 3.5 stars with a leaner toward 4. Wednesday night visit with wife and daughter, during happy hour, but didn't sit at the bar. Happy hour looked like it had some decent deals to it. This is definitely a beer driven establishment, so take this comment with a grain of salt, or barley: the wine list is amazingly terse. Considering the level of cuisine available, I think it would be wise to expand the list. 2 pinot noirs, 1 zin, 1 cab, 1 Aussie syrah, and 1 I can't recall right now; plus the whites I didn't even look at. All available by the glass and fairly priced. But again, extremely limited. We were promptly seated and the place was 1/3 full at the time (6). By 6:30, the joint was packed. There were two shows nearby (Hippodrome is right across the street, and First Mariner was right down the block) so maybe that's why. Server was prompt and nicely talkative. I wouldn't exactly call it kid friendly, as there is no children's food section on the menu, but the server worked with us to get us through. Our daughter really wanted a burger, and the only one they have is the $15 Smoke burger. While it is well worth the price of admission (both my wife and I got it and loved it) it's way too much for a 3.5 year old. So, we started with the truffle mac-n-cheese, which, to be called "truffle" needs more than 3 tiny limp truffle slices on it. Still tasty, but a little steep at $11. She consumed a lot of that, plus a few pieces of my wife's massive burger. My medium-rare was closer to rare, but still tasty. Could have used another minute on the grill. Wife's medium is what I consider medium rare. YMMV. Duck fat fries were tasty but nothing to droll over. Server kindly hooked up our daughter with a small side of fries, too. Also on the kid-friendly bit, another two couples came in with extremely loud kids and no one seemed to mind; we were seated in the back room which was quieter (as were they; good move!) than the main dining room. There's also an upstairs. Ultimately I'm pleased and will return. I miss Maggie Moore's and the Killer Burger, but Alewife is an able replacement.
(4)
S W.
My friends and I dined there this evening and I was VERY disappointed with our server. She got my order ALL wrong was not the least bit apologetic and she was rude about it. I sent the order back and she never asked if she could get me anything else then when the bill came she only deducted 1/2 the meal off?! I ate the fries but really you screw up my order then you charge me for the fries I did eat? Asked for the manger but apparently he/she was to busy to come to table. #epicfail
(1)
A P.
Area's ghetto as hell, but beer, burgers, duck fat fries and buffalo chicken soup are great! Close to Camden Yards.
(5)
James F.
Great on all accounts. Atmosphere was interesting. Food and drink selection was amazing. Best Fish Tacos in Baltimore(wish they were on their lunch menu!) Five Stars for sure.
(5)
Chris H.
I have been here numerous times and besides the wait-staff being rather unfriendly, had never had negative experiences. However my last few visits were subpar. The burger, usually amazing, came well done despite the medium-rare that i ordered. The blackbean burger, usually crispy, came out a sloppy mess on a VERY stale bun on my last visit. That being said, great beer selection and laid back atmosphere. Apps are all delicious. Maybe stick to happy hour
(3)
Kat C.
At first, I was concerned. My boyfriend had walked right by the door with the giant Alewife sign above it. And then? I was dismayed - stairs! I tragically had donned flip flops in the boorish heat of summer, how could I traverse such things? But then, as we crested the summit, a puzzling sign. Actually the sign it self wasn't a puzzle, unless you're dyslexic, then I suppose every sign could be an adventure. "Please seat yourself" for lunch? Unheard of! I mean, it's as though they want to have a welcoming, easygoing atmosphere for folks wandering in off the street for lunch! The nerve! We sat at the bar and found ourselves... sitting at a bar. While I couldn't tell you what type of wood it was made of, or the origin of the 3rd lumberjack to slice at it, I can tell you it was a very comfortable bar. Our waitress, bartend-ress, gave us a smile that let us know she was genuinely interested in these strange, bedraggled people who had bumped into the Alewife's state of existence. She greeted us, asked if we knew what we wanted to drink. A deep surprise exploded from my boyfriend's mouth: "It's early in the day, I'D LIKE A LIGHTER BEER PLEASE" as I reeled from the implications that he was not interested in a pint of beer so black that light had only a piece of floss and a thumbtack in order to escape it - our waitress very kindly gave him a few samples of some of their local brews. She then turned to me and asked me if I would also like a lighter beer. Time, my brain, and I think something deep under the sewers stopped. Yes? What would you like? Something... lighter than what he has? Okay, how about... My mind was swimming in beautiful combinations of hops, wheat, barley, water, and eventually agave. While my mind was swimming, my mouth was running on finicky autopilot. With the swift and gentle actions of a woman who knows where everything in her kitchen/bar was, she gave me sample after sample. My tastebuds had to cooperating nature of a rhinocerous with a sinus infection. Fortunately, she eased me into a novel concept. One unheard of for centuries, if at all. A menu. With descriptions of the beers. Hence, I ended up with a lovely brew made with Agave. The lunch menu was reasonable, not overwhelming or overflowing with grease and misery. My boyfriend chose his pub staple - fish and chips. BUT LO - these chips were not ordinary fries! They were - YUCCA! Delicious, delicious yucca fries. Did we know what the hell a yucca plant was? I did, from nefarious studies deep in the recesses of the bio hall in college. The boyfriend? Knew it from Fallout New Vegas. I ordered the tomato soup. This soup arrived unassuming on my lovely bowl sitting on my lovely plate accompanied with a lovely cheese sandwich. When I surreptitiously slurped the first slurp of soup I was not prepared for the SWEET SOUR SALTY PEPPERY UMAMI BACON TASTING HOLY MOLEY WHY IS THIS JUST SOUP?! The waitress, my god she just stood there - knowing. Knowing that we were experiencing pub food that reached deep into us and pulled out our delightfully hairy and wholesome hobbit selves. Have you ever reached your hobbit self? Have you ever been so content with the atmosphere, the food, the beer, the company what you just want to pull out a long pipe, light up some moss, and call it "the loveliest little place in the Shire"? HAVE YOU?! Mulling over pleasant current affairs with your date and the staff, feeling the warm wood beneath your fingers as you push away from the bar, and realizing that your cool beer is still sitting patiently for you to finish it - these are the things that make one have a hobbit meal. Come to the Alewife, and find your inner Hobbit.
(5)
Erin A.
Seriously, in the 3 months I have been in Maryland, this is the best place I have found!! Too bad it is a whopping two hour drive from where I live and this gal likes to drank, so I will rarely get to go! We have been there twice now, once before a game and once on our way to the airport (don't judge). They have an amazing beer selection, lots of IPA! Both times we have been, the bartenders and other staff are knowledgeable about the beer which is hard to find! They will let you taste too, which I like with craft beer. the food, what we have had anyway, is awesome. I have had the chicken salad (really unique and good) and the veggie burger...it is prob the best veggie burger I have had (but I am a meat eater so I don't order them terribly often) My man friend got the smoke house burger both times we went, and seriously had a man-gasm both times! The staff is so nice, and the people we have met sitting at the bar are equally cool! you would be silly not to go to this place, and I am jealous of those who live closer!!!
(5)
J R.
Agree! The best burger and it is worth the wait! Forget about the fries, nothing to brag about, that is why I gave a four star. The burger needs a match. Cozy good crowd, good service, very busy call for reservation it will save you time.
(4)
Abigail C.
I decided to take my boyfriend here for his birthday because he is a big fan of craft brews! I was a little concerned when we first sat down because we were right on top of the table next to us, but this wasn't much of an issue. My boyfriend extremely excited that they had Rogue Dead Guy Ale on draft! For an appetizer we got the duck fat fries with a spicy chipotle dipping sauce, and the truffled mac and cheese! Both were amazing, the mac and cheese especially. For dinner my boyfriend ordered the smoked burger and he absolutely love it! The only reason I gave Alewife four stars rather than five was because I ordered the Grilled Skirt Steak with sweet mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus, in like a smoky glaze and I was not impressed. The sweet mashed poatoes and grilled asparagus were alright, but the Kobe Streak was fatty and just did not taste right with the sauce. Our service was good! The building that Alewife is in was a renovated Bank and it is absolutely incredible inside!
(4)
H C.
In Baltimore on short notice, looked for a place to eat by asking Uncle Yelp (that guy knows all the good places) and settled on Alewife. Here's the nutshell version of what I experienced. It's both very good and bad, bordering on very bad, all at the same table. The smoke burger was very, very good. None of the inconsistent bacon issues others spoke of, cooked just right (med rare) and delicious. The skirt steak though was mediocre, with a weak sauce, and the mashed sweet potatoes were passed around for the "oh, wow" factor only. Not in a good way, sadly. Everything else from the remainder of the food choices our party made to the service, atmosphere etc. was between "good enough, certainly nothing to complain about" and very good, but not necessarily excellent. Beer list is as everyone says, very large, very good quality. Can't go wrong there if that's what you're after. Would I return? Absolutely, especially if I was in that part of town. Would I rave over it, insist others go, and refuse to try other places? No, the inconsistencies were too much. I also would not walk very far away from the front door after dark, but that's a separate issue. Let's just say that if you aren't from the City you might feel more comfortable with a cab than walking to a car at night.
(3)
Chaka H.
So... I'm not the biggest fan of beer, but I may have converted after going here! That have an extensive collection of brews and I chose the Alabash white, and I finished my entire glass. Yeee! The nice thing about their selection is that they give you taste tests in small- shot like glasses. But, beware, read the menu closely! If you order a glass of brew and you don't like it... you cannot send it back, that's why you taste before you order! I love this. We ordered the calamari for our appetizer, and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't covered in oil and fried stuff- I actually tasted the squid. YUM. Between the two of us, we ordered the smoke burger- APPLE WOOD BACON changed my LIFE, beef, cipollini onions, amazingness- I couldn't finish it because it was larger than me, but it was delicious and the kobe beef hot dog- which was tasty, but it was nothing to write home about. The vibe is super chill, and great for watching local sports (a Ravens game was on when we went!). I can definitely see myself (and the boyfriend) becoming regulars here!
(4)
Norman M.
A very lively place for a good pub meal. They have an impressive list of beers available on tap. The Smoke Burger was a great choice. Gouda, thick cut bacon and duck fat fries! My wife's fish tacos were tasty as well. A little cramped but not uncomfortable. We were there during and after a baseball game so the noise level was loud but not so bad that we could not converse. They seemed a bit understaffed as well. Overall good choice.
(3)
Jarrett H.
We didn't have any food, but before dealing with a wedding and my girlfriend's family, we needed a drink. Yelp, being happy to tell us where to find a good beer selection, directed us to Alewife. Sparsely populated in the mid-afternoon, there are three sections from what I could tell: A few large tables for groups or standard sit-down eating, a few high-top tables with stools for casual meetings, and the many-tapped bar. The beer menu is written on a chalkboard, but instead of selecting a single one, Alewife offers flights: four 4oz samples selected by the bartender. We asked about the regional sampler, and after mentioning we were from Pittsburgh went without the NY and PA breweries we were used to. To me this was a nice surprise, that the flights are not profit-optimized pourings written by the manager before each shift. The bartender asked what we liked and used his best judgement to give us a well-rounded sample of regional brews. Also, he was happy to give us a sample of a different one that we had been interested in. Good place to grab a drink - This place especially had a lot of Dogfish Head(I think), and a lot of Stone - many being limited release drafts.
(4)
Jeffrey S.
Went for a burger and a beer before the O's home opener. A group of 8 of us sat upstairs. Everyone raved about their food and beer. Most of us had the smoke burger and it was one of the best burgers I have had. Great selection of beer. Love the idea of converting old buildings as well, so the atmosphere was great. Wish we had more time to try more beer!!
(5)
Mikey Dreidel B.
By far te best burger I've ever eaten & devil eggs as an app was amazing!!
(4)
John T.
Very good beer bar and restaurant. I don't know if I would call this a gastropub, but it's close. There are a few reasons I wouldn't take it to the lofty connotation of gastropub. The menu is not very diverse, specials seem to be sparse, no suggested beer pairings, and style diversity on the beer menu could be a little better. Of course they specialize in IPAs and Belgium Beers, and they do not disappoint in that regard. Of course I make mention of the slim menu, but it is very good. Have not had anything that is disappointing. The ambiance is also very nice. Dimly lit with exposed Edison style bulbs, highlighting the age of the beautiful old bank. There is a table in the original front door that is now floor to ceiling glass that is a pleasure to sit in. There is also a large chalkboard displaying their current beer offerings. Kind of. Apparently they put things up there that aren't available yet, which can be a bit of tease. Service is good, even on the busiest of days. Prices are fair ad well. Some might thing the Smoke Burger is a little pricy at $15, but given the high quality ingredients I would disagree. However the advertised 11oz burger might be an inflated weight. There is also a $12 Kobe Beef Hot Dog I have yet to try. I have heard good things about it, but I just can't seem to allow myself to pay more for a hot dog than is charged at a Raven's game. Please don't be turned off by any of my criticisms. This is a great place that enjoy visiting whenever I can.
(4)
Kathy Y.
Truffle Mac N Cheese - amazing. Lick your plate good.
(4)
Nate P.
Had dinner here based on Yelp review on my first night of a fun weekend in Baltimore. Hit the spot completely. I had one of their very fun cocktails while my partner had one of the rare beers. It says on the menu that you'll get to try the rare beer before they pull you a full glass, to make sure you like it, but that was not actually the case. Luckily it was a good choice! The food was fantastic and really hit the spot after a long day of traveling. If you don't like it loud or need your server to be elegant, this might not be the spot for you. Definitely a youngish crowd that was enjoying the place, not rushing through their meals.
(4)
andrew y.
Truffle Mac and cheese was wonderful. They used a wonderful choice of cheeses that were well balanced and not overpowering. The crunchiness on the top was also quite delightful. The smoke burger lived up to it's outstanding reputation. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out they do beer flights! Good choice and great option for dinner before a show at the Hippodrome which is right across the street. I recommend you call for reservations.
(4)
Nelson C.
The drinks are very small and even more expensive. There was so little alcohol that I had to approach the bartender to ask if she had even put any in my drink at all. For $10 I expect more than a pathetic excuse for a Jack and Coke. The Gumbo tasted like the slop that they would feed inmates at Shawshank prison and you would be better off spending your money else where.
(1)
Renee C.
Overall Alewife is really good. The atmosphere is great. We went during lunch and the service was pretty slow. I got the shrimp po boy, but it is hard to say how good it actually is because it was missing the sauce. I asked repeatedly for sauce but it never came, even though we were one of two tables in the entire restaurant. My boyfriend got the smoke burger and he loved it, especially the bacon. It was nicely seasoned and the meat was tender. We shared the duck fat fries and they were good but, I don't think that they were worth the extra $1.50. Although we didn't try any of the beers, the selection was impressive and demonstrated a great knowledge of craft brewing. The artwork was fantastic and the restaurant looks really cool.
(3)
Scott G.
I've been waiting for a beer bar on the West Side for some time. Brewer's Art is fine, but I don't really like drinking their homegrown beers. I want a hoppy Stone IPA. Thankfully, Alewife has just that and tons more. Their beer selection is off the hook with tons of bottles and draughts. I haven't tried the food, but I can say the beer selection, the aesthetics of the venue, and the friendly waitstaff are enough to give it five stars. The location is not ideal. It's rather desolate on weekend nights. In fact, I went to retrieve money from the Bank of America ATM around the corner on a Saturday night. I walked up to the ATM and immediately a man stopped right behind me and asked for something. I bolted before I could ask him to repeat himself. Considering that it's not centrally located in the younger neighborhoods is all the more reason to go there. Support this place so it doesn't go the way of other failed business ventures in West Baltimore.
(5)
Danielle R.
The food was wonderful and there was an amazing selection of well crafted beers to choose from. Be sure to make a reservation or get there early for Happy Hour.
(4)
Adam C.
Hello Yelpers, Wow what can you say? An amazing beer selection, one hell of a Kobe Beef Hotdog, you must try it to understand its goodness, and from what i can tell the Burger looks amazing and smells even better, I have not personally tried this burger , but plan to very soon, Every time I turn my head, I see it when it hits the table, I turn around 5 mins later and its already been eaten, this is a huge burger and my clock may be run by amazing beer, but everyone eats this thing in its entirety. No lie... Go see for yourself. I tend to go with new beers every time I go, because hey, they have so many to choose from. Check it out, bring some friends, enjoy the conversations, and the ambiance of an old Bank, they still have a vault in there on the way to the bathroom, pretty sweet. Brian Palombo, this is the manager. If you have a chance to talk to him when he is there, please do. He is a wealth of information when it comes to Baltimore and will know someone you know from where ever you are from, thats how it worked for us. We live next door , so we try to go as often as possible. Ask Brian about the "Night of 100 Elvises" He describes this mythical night quite well and may even reccomend you try the drink of Christmas! Alewife, I give it 2 thumbs up and 5 stars. I am sorry 1 out of 1000 don't feel the same! Enjoy!
(5)
Kojo B.
Ok, first things first the service was really really bad the bar and the restaurant by and large was empty but our waitress rarely checked on us. Slow and un-attentive to say the least. Anyway, let's move on to the food shall we. So prior to going I checked the yelp reviews and everyone raved on and on about this smokehouse burger as being the best burger in Baltimore. Obviously my expectations and bar had been set very high, so needless to say I ordered the smokehouse and boy was I disappointed. The bacon was burnt and was hard as rocks, I ordered my burger medium well, it was terrible it sought of reminded me of burgers at hard rock cafe not earth shattering but basic. I am pretty positive that I can hook up a better seasoned burger. Anyhow when someone says that Alewife's burgers are the best in bmore it's quite possible that some adult beverages have clouded their judgement. I will stick to Abbey's and will try out Hamilton Tavern at a latter time. Also i had fries along with my burger, and if that is what was masquerading as duck fat fries then it is the worst i have ever had.
(2)
Stacey G.
Sorry to those who thought much higher of this place than me but I've had a lot better for better prices. The best parts about this place is their draught beers and the setting. Great selection and the server was able to describe them thoroughly. The service was also pretty good. The disappointment? Kind of important component: the food. The duck fat fries were over seasoned. The chipotle aioli with all the seasoning on the fries was just too much. One of us had the burger and I simply don't get what everyone is raving about. It was good, yes, but the best burger you've ever had? I'm afraid those folks aren't getting out enough. I don't like being able to taste a charcoal flavor more than the meat. The meats get lost in all the onion, cheese, chipotle. It's just too much going on. We subbed asparagus for the fries and the asparagus were like tree trunk size and were over grilled. (I'll go to Pappa's if I want mushy asparagus.) Also, not sure why we were charged for subbing. The asparagus side is cheaper than the fries. But whatever. We also had the BBQ shrimp and grits. The flavor of the grits was pretty good. The shrimp were cooked nicely. Not really a strong BBQ flavor but I was OK with that. The real problem was the grits were lumpy. Not just small lumps either. Imagine lumps the size of toast points. At $20, you'd think grits could be smooth. Shows a lack of care/consistency. One last note - we were seated upstairs in that small area overlooking the bar. It was so loud at points we gave up talking to each other. Granted it was a Friday night after 7 so noise levels will be higher but the noise cast a shadow over the entire evening. Incidentally, not sure if they have desserts. We were never offered any. We'll go again. Maybe this time they'll have the radish wraps, which I wanted to try. Beer selection is worth another visit. And we have another groupon so not going to let it go to waste but I hope our second visit is redeeming.
(2)
Darcy P.
from what I hear--one of top 3 burgers in the city. but I don't agree. they mix the smoked gouda in with ground meat...and I think the flavor gets lost. but friends LOVE LOVE LOVE it. "3 types of meat and 11 oz!" and, to be fair, I'm not a big burger eater. So when I do have a bite, I want it to be magnificent. I've tried this one twice and twice decided not worth eating more. also, the burger wasn't cooked as ordered, but hey. the beer selection is fantastic. the vibe is great. the entire menu is also good and elevated from normal bar food--with good prices, too! the service is nice but really slow, though prob more a management issue than a server issue, i.e., put more bartenders or servers on a shift. two bartenders with a big packed bar just doesn't cut it. we have season tickets to the hippodrome and go here before the shows. it's packed but worth it. it's a welcome addition to the neighborhood and worth checking out.
(4)
Cesar G.
I was in Baltimore for a conference recently and decided to check out Alewife with three colleagues based on Yelp and a Baltimore Magazine review. I wasn't disappointed. It has a great ambiance, a delicious black bean burger, and a great beer and cocktail menu. I would definitely be open to returning next time I'm in town.
(4)
Linda L.
I used to really like Alewife the first couple times I went, but I've been totally disappointed lately. I keep coming back because it's only a block away from my boyfriend's apartment and it serves food late enough at night that if I'm unwise enough to procrastinate on dinner, there's always somewhere to go besides Panera or Subway. They have a gigantic beer menu so there's always something new to try. The restaurant is situated in an old building that used to be a bank at some point, so there's some cool architecture going on as well. As far as a bar food goes, it's hit and miss, and pricey for what you get. The famous smoke burger is not any more special than burgers you can get at any other restaurant or gastropub, yet is several dollars more expensive. My favorite dish here used to be the mushroom risotto cakes, but they seemed to have removed it from the menu. Just as well, considering the last time I got it, the cakes weren't warm all the way through and the crust was far from crispy. The fennel frites also used to be a favorite of mine, but when I got them off the late night menu this past weekend, I think the cook accidentally threw in some calamari into the fryer. The batter was also sub-par. What was supposed to be a light and crispy tempura batter was instead a heavy, overcooked fried dough coating the slices of fennel (and calamari...). I could go on about my various disappointing experiences here but I'll spare you the details. There really aren't very many restaurants in this area besides chains, so Alewife isn't a terrible option, especially if you don't want to walk down to the mediocre, touristy restaurants at the Inner Harbor.
(2)
D V.
I love coming here! This is my 7th trip here and I always get the burger with duck fat fries. It is the BEST burger I have ever had. Also I want to say thank you to Kelsey would fished my retainer out of the trash.
(5)
Greg M.
After reading all the reviews about the smoke burger i may have set my expectations too high. It was a red robin quality hamburger at best... On the brighter side, they have a draft list that will please any beer snob and the duck fat fries are worth the trip alone.
(3)
Meatdowntown C.
I went again to try the Cubano sandwich but it is gone. I did try the burger at it was very good as well as the Tilapia tacos. the service at the bar is kind of funky. the bartenders think they are too cool for the curstomers. Still good food and a great variety of beer.
(3)
Carl A.
I really want to like Alewife. Anyplace devoted to various "good" beers that ISN'T Max's makes me incredibly happy. We should have 10 restaurants and bars that have this kind of selection so that I never have to deal with the crowds that Max's brings. I went to Alewife last night with my boyfriend, and two other couples. It was crowded; we got there right before Les Miserables started across the street at the Hippodrome, and so we were waiting for a table. I draped my coat across a chair, and while I was ordering a beer at the bar, my compatriots were scolded for it. I wouldn't be irked by this ordinarily, if we hadn't been given that exact table 10 minutes later. The beer selection here is great. They have a LOT of different varieties. We seemed to stick to the draft beers...I ordered a Stone IPA, and two Allagash Blacks. The other dudes that were there are very adventurous, and had fun picking through the beer list and debating the merits and downfalls of each. The food was tasty, too. I wasn't too hungry, so I just ordered Cream of Crab soup, which was pretty good. Also ordered were Duck Fat Fries, which were also fairly good (though I do have a problem faking the seemingly requisite orgasm noise accompanying their arrival on the table), as well as Shrimp Croquettes (Only three?? Come on!) and Mushroom Risotto Cakes, which were kind of skimpy. My boyfriend ordered the Black Bean Burger, which was tasty (I had a sample...dating perks), but was...rather squishy. It virtually disintegrated when squeezed. The service here was pretty slow, especially disproportionate when considering how the crowd thinned out a little bit as the play began across the street. Our server was knowledgable, and very passionate about the beer served, but was wearing a Nike Performance shirt. Like, I wore the same shirt the day before on a run. It bothered me enough to comment about it...it just seemed a little unimpressive. I'd go back...but if similar pub popped up in Baltimore, I'd go there instead.
(3)
Sarah S.
Loved the food, beer, and ambiance of Alewife. The only downside was the mostly inattentive staff. Definitely worth giving a second chance.
(4)
Rick S.
First time. Got in around 830pm; wasn't crowded at all and grabbed a seat wherever. Food was upscale and had the price to match; same with the beer ($21 for steak and $7 for a rare beer) but you get what you pay for. All around good place to visit.
(4)
Lois B.
The first time we had the smoked burger which was fine. This time we ordered the Maryland crab cakes. The cake was very small and the price was quite high for what it was. Two small crab cakes, one fried green tomato and a very small salad. The best part of the dinner was the wine.
(3)
Mark F.
Great beer selection! I ordered the Kobe hotdog to eat. The sausage and mustards were great but the roll did not seem fresh at all.
(3)
Ben H.
Walked into Misfits 20 Eyes, then talked to Chef Chad Wells for 2 mins. Great guy. Then the Cure Just like heaven hit. I've got a new home in Baltimore. Shit, I just realized I haven't said a word about the food. Ok, two words. Smoke Burger. And anything this man does with snakehead fish is magic!
(4)
Marlee S.
For a place that wasn't super full, it sure took a LONG time to get our drinks and food. The pluses are their beer selection. The food is on the pricier side for a bar.
(2)
David M.
This place has a constantly rotating selection of fantastic craft beers and one of the best burgers you'll ever find. Everything on the menu is pretty good but that Smoke Burger is really something special. Try it.
(5)
Roz S.
Excellent! Beer and food were terrific! Duck fries, mac n' cheese, and peach quesadillas were all delicious. Friendly service.
(5)
Casey T.
We stopped in after reading other yelp reviews. Tried a selection of different beers and ordered some calamari which was excellent. We also ordered two burgers and true to their word (it is stated on the menu that the burgers take a long time to make) we waited probably about 40 minutes for them. The ambiance and decor of the restaurant is very neat. We sat at the bar which was comfortable. The bartenders were nice enough but nothing particularly special.
(4)
Whitney T.
I didn't eat here, just had drinks...the beer selection is really amazing! If you're a beer person, this is your place. However, they don't carry Miller Lite, Bud Light, or any of those types of beer, so if you're in the mood for something low-key, this is not your place.
(3)
Jeff C.
Bad service and way overpriced. Had wings, quesadilla and duck fat fries; all were very good. However, they were double the price for what you can get in just as good a place here in Baltimore. We sat at the bar and service was bad. Couldn't get a bartender to bring a glass of water, she was too busy chatting with a friend at the end of the bar. And to top it off, she overcharged us on the number of beers we had! Unfortunately, I didn't notice until we had left. Liked the food, beer selection and atmosphere but this place is a rip off with bad service.
(2)
Devin R.
The Smoke Burger was the best burger ever to have passed these lips. Pair that with a very large beer selection and you have the perfect man meal. Try it with the Stone Double Bastard or Lucky Bastard. When i make the move to Bmore this will certainly be one of my top hangouts
(5)
Julian G.
Fantastic service, delicious food, cool atmosphere... great time!!!
(5)
Travis B.
Disappointed. This is my 2nd time coming here. I had the Cuban sandwich the first and it was amazing. This time around I tried the smoke burger per reviews. I was not impressed. My burger was undercooked completely raw in the middle. The bun was overly grease. The duck fries were grease and undercooked. Don't get me wrong these food items are grease but this was not appetizing. I'm sticking with a three because they have a great beer selection, they do have some great dishes and my food was flavorful, just poorly cooked.
(3)
Jon L.
I can't get enough of the smoke burger. The rest of the menu is so appetizing but I can't go there and order anything else. I managed to share an appetizer last time and got the wings. They were amazing. Yesterday, I shared the fish tacos as an appetizer before the burger. I left there so full but wanting more...Can't wait to go back..
(5)
Matthew V.
The Alewife is all about the beer. They offer a enormous list of beers you've never heard of and it changes weekly. You can request samples of beers before buying. The food is upscale pub fare (burgers, fries) and is quite tasty - just not the best I've ever had. Portions are good, the decor is nice, and the wait staff is helpful (ask them for a beer recommendations). You're typical patrons are yuppies. Not a 5 star rating because its slightly overpriced and the conditions of the Groupon they offered were pretty restrictive; but I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Steve S.
We visited Alewife for the first time on Friday evening before a concert at the Hippodrome. Our party of six arrived at bit late but our reservations were held and our table was ready. The hostess was very friendly and greeted us warmly. We waited about 5 minutes for a server and our drinks were brought quickly. Our food was a very different story. Our party elected to order burgers to save time but our food took almost any hour to arrive. To be fair, our server warned us to order quickly and the owner sent us a round of drinks but we were about 10 minutes late to the show. The "smoke burger" was fantastic and the beer selection vast. I will go back, but not before a show.
(4)
Brian O.
Great food and friendly service. The Smoke Burger exceeded all expectations, and the duck fat fries were something special. Grilled cheese and tomato soup were also a good choice. Our six-year old enjoyed the kid's grilled cheese. The beer selection was excellent, although being from California, it had a lot that were familiar from home, I had to ask what was local to this area.
(5)
Julius B.
Great spot across from Hippodrome theater. Smoke burger is the bomb! Maybe the best cheeseburger in town. Calamari appetizer terrible. Overpriced and soup like texture. Fries were good but great. Great wait staff. Crazy selection of drafts. The Sierra Nevada holiday pale ale was tops. I will repeat.
(4)
Leslie B.
Good food, although I do sometimes think it's a bit more expensive than it should be. Best beer selection in that area of downtown (i.e. waaaaay better than Pickles, Frank & Nic's, etc.)
(4)
Jayson H.
Off night maybe? I read all of these reviews and wonder if I even ate at the same place... Oh yeah, I did. Just finished eating there and won't be back. While they have an awesome selection of beers the staff, at least our waitress, wasn't very knowledgeable about the breweries. She recommended a pilsner that was actually an ale. I had the fish tacos and the tortillas were browned to such a crisp they broke into pieces when trying to eat them like a taco. The "Alewife Salad" was almost completely dry and about 98% greens with limited good stuff - blue cheese, apple, asparagus, etc. When I asked for more salad dressing they gave me some but also charged me for it. Pretty sad to need to charge extra for salad dressing for an $8 salad. Waitress was disinterested in her job and spent most of her time reading at the other side of the restaurant. Then after I confronted her on the extra charge for the salad dressing she said, "Have a nice night" with a smirk and a bit of stink on it. Obviously the manager knew that I had questioned her on the salad dressing (saw the two of them discussing it when she settled the bill). Pros - Amazing beer selection Cons - expensive for serving size, more style over substance with food, slow service (even on a night when they were not busy), staff doesn't know enough about beer, poor attitude I won't go back. I suggest you save your money and visit any of the local places that have great service and great food. Alewife, you've been 86'd.
(2)
Mike D.
Round two...took Mom to Alewife for her birthday and it was the bomb! Thai peanut chicken wings for appetizer was soooooo good,crispy,big,tasty...get them! We both ordered the Smoke burger and again it was terrific. I only ate some fries and half my burger cuz I wanted to try dessert and last time I ate the whole thing and was full as shit. We both got the caramel and apple cheese cake ....yea yeahhhhhh....fuckin tasty!!! Go there get the same things I got and eat dat shit!!!!
(5)
Lindsey M.
The burger and fries are absolutely amazing. However, it's pretty overpriced. The atmosphere is great, but its pretty loud. The servers are pretty distant and not very engaging, but overall that's okay. We asked for a recommendation for beer and described the types we like and had to end up paying for this awful beer at the recommendation of the waiter. It was nothing like what we liked. If your waiter seems unsure, then just ask a bartender or google something ahead of time for what you'd like to try. The ciders there are very good, and I was pleasantly surprised by the berry cider. Be sure to make a reservation as its always fairly full.
(4)
Dave M.
Great atmosphere! Great brew selection! Little bit hipster, not in a bad way tho. Smoke burger is the boss :) Honestly NO complaints! I will be back!
(5)
Miriam B.
This was my 2nd trip here. They have a huge beer list. And some nice cocktails. I tried the pear cocktail and the Baltimore cocktail. My husband tried the IPA beer flight. I tried a sip of it and even though I'm not a beer lover it was very tasty. We had the cheese and meat board, Thai wings and the crab cakes for appetizers. They smoke their own salmon and chorizo and serve it with aged cheddar, gherkins, blue cheese and house glazed cashews on their meat and cheese board. It paired perfectly with the beer. The Thai wings had this sweet/ spicy glaze on them that was kind of addictive. The crab cakes were tasty little morsels of crab meat. We also enjoyed the mussels in a spicy lobster broth. The Cuban sandwich was also a stand out. Thin layers of ham, pork, cheese, pickles and mustard grilled perfectly on Cuban bread. For a side dish the grilled asparagus was terrific. Great option for a vegetarian. We had a sponge cake with keylime ice cream for dessert. It was the perfect ending to our meal. Very nice service too.
(5)
Jesse K.
With little reluctance I was brought back to this establishment for a work get-together and my experience this time really changed my mind for the better about Alewife. Although the Stone IPA was out, I was recommended the Green Flash IPA by our server and it was kick butt. Based on other reviews I ordered the smoke burger and it was served perfecto medium rare and also kicked butt. Delicious. Rounded out the night with a Green Flash "Palette Wrecker" imperial IPA, which was one of the best beers I have ever tasted and a personal recommend by the owner, with whom I chatted while we were washing our hands in the restroom, of all places. The service was great; she broke our tab into multiple separate checks without issue and our food came out much more quickly than I thought it would. We had a very nice time. I would gladly come back again.
(4)
Lindsay R.
If you go for nothing else, the smoke burger is worth the trip! There is also a very wide selection of beer that is reasonably priced. The service is not as attentive as it could be, but still a place worth visiting. Also, if you come in a group over 3 then prepare to pay as a group
(4)
Jamie S.
I'm so glad someone is making use of this location because the building is so beautiful. If you remember Lucy's Irish Restaurant from back in the day this is what's there now. Right across from the Hippodrome so go in and grab a pint before the show. Alewife has kept this location classy and is bringing herds folks in because this place was packed by 5:30 when I was there. For the beer snob in you this place will probably have something to your liking. When I was there I had the local Stillwater Autumnal (x3) and it was a satisfying drop. I didn't sample much of the food but friends who ordered were pleased with the attention to detail in their dishes and the burgers looked to be totally bangin'. Beers are strong! Not many wimpy beers here. I'd say the average abv is about 7-8% with drinks like the Victory Storm hovering around 1000% abv. Beers are a bit on the pricey side so bring your beer money. No Dollar Draughts here but the value is there. It's easy to socialize in a bar like this and I had an all around good feeling with this place (did I mention the beers were strong?). You can tell these folks have a good vision and are seeing it through. I have to go now. Need to find more change in the couch cushions. I gotta go back. I wonder if Alewife cashes tax return checks. I'll ask.
(4)
Victoria L.
Last Friday, I was pinged by a couple other Yelpers that they were going to try Alewife for Happy Hour, and since the place is a whopping 3 blocks from my downtown office, I was ecstatic to drink after work and stumble home. So, working and living downtown, you learn that every bar has its own feel and you can't judge the bar by the neighborhood or the neighborhood by the bar. Alewife borders Harbor East and Downtown and the interior is really what you'd expect - classy and polished but open and a very lively place. The bar was *already* hopping, even though I was the first of the group to get there at 5:30 - I got the last seat at the bar. I asked the waitress if they could accomodate a party of 10-20 people, and she said that they were already expecting a couple of larger groups who called ahead. Popular place! It wasn't a big deal at all since none of us mind crowding the bar. I got about 57 ciders, the tomato soup, and the world's classiest hot dog, while my SO got the cubano and about 83 hop-heavy drafts. We were only there until about 7:30 but managed to drink and eat up a $100 bill by the end, and it was worth every penny. Also, kudos to the female bar tender who remembered what I was drinking even though she didn't pour my first one. She did pour my next 56 though. :D
(4)
john f.
been to alewife a few times now. the smoke burger lives up to the hype. they have a million beers on tap, and a staff that is knowledgeable and helpfull. However, be warned, my buddy ordered the skirt steak and it was pathetically small. Skirt steak is generally a cheap cut and he figured $21 would get him a generous portion. but you'd have thought it was filet mignon, the portion was so tiny for the price. hence the 4 stars, everything else about the place is 5 star though.
(4)
Felix G.
Located in the ghetto. But great burger. If you dont get scared easily def stop by.
(4)
shawn g.
Great beer selection and servers that were willing to accommodate us after our fennel fries arrived and we realized that it was not fries dusted with fennel, but strips of fennel, deep fried. The smoke burger did take a while as promised, but I thought the taste was well worth it. The sauteed onions, sauce and seasoning played very well together. The duck fat fries were also good and not nearly as overwhelming as other places I've ordered them. The Lady enjoyed her grilled shrimp and gruyere grits, but couldn't finish. If you go here in the evening and get the table by the big window, be prepared for the attention you'll get from passers by.
(4)
Kay G.
Food was awesome, the service quick (especially for marathon weekend!). I was a little bummed that they were out of at least 1/4 of the draft beers I was interested in, but the buffalo chicken soup certainly made up for it.
(4)
Owen R.
Train wreck for service at Alewife Since I received a call confirming my reservation, I should have realized that the dinner might come off the tracks when the hostess had no evidence of a reservation. Despite the fact it was Saturday at 6pm the fact we were seated promptly, was a good recovery.... But things deteriorated. Good service is not just superior table tending, but coordination between the kitchen and the floor with intervention by management when the two are not in alignment. Some one should tell Alewife. This restaurant is across the street from Baltimore's major performing arts center, The Hippodrome Theater and I would suggest, could be responsible for a large portion of their business given the lack of suitable dining within walking distance. We notified the server of our need to have our "feet on the street" 20 minutes prior to curtain which we were told would not be a problem as we mentioned this one hour and forty minutes in advance of that deadline. Our four top ordered two salads, a black bean cake and a mussels / soup combo for the fourth at 6:20. We heeded the server's gospel to allow for some "more time" for any meat dishes...which evidently included a 4 oz portion of flank steak on one of the salads. Drinks arrived (13 minutes: 1 beer, 2 cocktails, one glass of wine) . The bar was lively - but not so packed so much that an efficient bartender team (?) could not handle. 10 minutes after the drinks were delivered, one of the diner's meals food arrives cold and in advance of all the other dishes. So one person eats while the others watch. Food quality comment: The soup and mussels were cold and the mussel dish had no broth. While I understand it is the chef's purview to prepare dishes how he / she sees fit, this was strange given that the dish came with bread and that I've never seen mussels served sans broth. Tomato soup was average. 7:10 pm - still no food and the waiter's hair is not on fire with this fact. Table tending was failing by all standards at this point. 7:25 (still no food) I've made management aware that at 7:40 we need leaving little time to eat assuming the food ever came out of the kitchen, which is concern. to leave shortly. Other diners adjacent to us are experiencing the same issues and they were seated only moments after us. 7:35 pm our food arrives (with server apologies) to the three diners in our party who of course have to literally eat and run to make the curtain. A bottle of wine was taken off the check and a box was brought to the table so we could fill our own leftovers. (Question: why does scraping the food off your plate on the table seem so much more objectionable than having a server do this out of sight?) So the moral of the story is this: there is a huge disconnect between the servers on the floor, the capabilities of the kitchen and the ability of management to handle either. The kitchen can't queue up food properly, which then leads to them not being able to keep food hot and they can't handle a theater rush. Hint: wouldn't the "theater rush" be your major preparation drill - especially weekends when a Broadways smash hit is playing 75 feet way for a month? Alewife's menu is bar-food average but aspires to be a bit more hip. A huge amount of mciro-draughts is attractive and the old bank space shows well. But Alewife, the third iteration of a bistro in t this space in approximately 5 years needs to wake up and manage the diner queue, realizing that the location is perpetually in the cross hairs of a dinner rush as a result of their proximity to a theater (a year round driver of business.) If they do not, look for a fourth operator in the space shortly.
(2)
Deb S.
The food was great, but the kitchen lost our order so I can't give it 5 stars. We arrived early and although our table was empty and reserved, they wouldn't seat us. They also made us stand in the bar for 20 minutes and we had to close that bill out before we walked 20 feet to our dinner table. Very high noise level. We got an appetizer in just a few minutes - fried calamari and it was very good, great sauce. Then we waited an hour and several followups with our waitress and another server to eventually get out meal, barely in time to make it to the theater. Did not enjoy rushing the food when we finally got it, but we all felt the food was excellent. Two people commented that their crab cakes were the best they have had, which is a lot coming from a real Baltimorean! The oyster appetizer and the fried artichokes were fabulous as well. The waitress was terrific except for not realizing the order was lost. We all agreed we would come back again, enjoyed the food and atmosphere - we just won't be such patient patrons next time:)
(4)
Mike M.
I've been here about 5 times now. The hamburger and beer selection are pretty unsurpassed for Balto. Crab cake appetizer was decent. They may have more beers somewhere (like Max's maybe) but the bartender's know more about how to guide you through a tasting. When I came with my son and the place was packed, the hostess helped accomodate us in the bar area which she didn't have to go through the trouble of doing. Would probably give them 4.5 stars. Do open table on game days as there are a lot of groups.
(4)
Tori H.
A friend had reported back that he ate at Alewife and had THE BEST steak paired with red wine, that he has ever had. My husband (also a chef), immediately had to go. Between 3 people, we ordered the Wild Mushroom Risotto Cake (seemed a bit flavorless), Kobe Beef Hot Dog (definitely interesting), Shrimp Croquette (didn't taste much of the shrimp), and Mussels. Wasn't thrilled with the dishes, but our friends experience will keep us going back a 2nd time to try the steak. The beer selection, however, is phenomenal! Would definitely go back if for nothing else but happy hour.
(3)
Brian And Fran M.
Overall - a gorgeous space and excellent beer selection, but the rest needs some refinement. This is a great beer-lover's bar with a gourmet light-fare menu. Calling is a restaurant, though, seems a stretch. Given the ambitious menu, my table unanimously remarked "good potential" but "lacking execution". It's advised to make a reservation - the hostess was less than willing to give up even a long empty table for fear of being unable to seat reservations. When we finally got a table, after watching others seat themselves, the waitresses and bartenders seemed experienced, but food was slow to arrive. When it did arrive it looked great, but my much-anticipated Smoke Burger came out well done instead of medium. (We did receive a small discount on the bill to compensate for the slow service.) After the meal, we asked for the dessert menu and were told they were out of everything and they did not serve coffee or tea. So my advise to Alewife would be - "Be a bar or be a restaurant". If your goal is to satisfy the beer-lover, add more bar seating! I would give you 4 - 4.5 stars for a great bar! If you want to be a restaurant, you may need to retrain the kitchen staff to be more consistent or simplify the dishes. Given time and some care this could be one of the best restaurants in Baltimore! Also note: When traveling here - it's best to come from the East or South - the neighborhoods North and West are a little sketchy.
(3)
John R.
Great experience for lunch. Bartender was attentive and knowledgeable about the great beer selection. Went back later that night and had some more beers. The place was little crazy after an O's/Red Sox game. Still, it rocked. The bartenders stayed up and the owner was a gracious host (on his birthday). Highly recommended.
(5)
Katie D.
Came here for opening night. Didn't get to try any food but I was definitely impressed by the beer selection. I had two beers and the check was around $13.00 -- it does seem a little pricy, but these were good high quality beers! I hope to come back and dine in the future and I am glad to see that new businesses are popping up over on the westside.
(4)
Laura K.
Excellent beer selection, and knowledgable staff which had me feeling like we were off to a great start, but things really just weren't that great overall. I will say my 3-stars is colored by the fact that I was super excited to go here and was really disappointed overall. We got the duck fat fries and they were delicious and crunchy. I had the tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons and it was delivered luke warm, it was pretty good other than that, but I wasn't blown away and am still not sure if the croutons were always soggy or if it had just been sitting before I got it. Someone else in our party got soup, it was also good, but luke warm. I lived in the south for a few years and fell in love with Shrimp and Grits as a dish, but now that I live in Delaware I never see it on menus, so when I found a restaurant near our hotel with it listed on the menu I was really excited. There are two types of shrimp and grits, one thats heavily tomato based and one that's not. I prefer it not be tomatoey and so I asked the server which it was, she said it was barbecue which (usually) has a tomato base but past that it wasn't tomato heavy. So when my meal showed up drowning in a chunky tomato sauce and it was all on top of what was much closer to a polenta than anything I've ever heard represented as grits, I was automatically very disappointed in my meal. It was ok. The shrimp was good, the polenta was good, as was the spinach, it just really wasn't what I was expecting and it was also not amazing enough to overcome that. My husband got the skirt steak and he said it was solid and tasty, but he sort of felt it also didn't blow him away and we both felt thusly, that it was a tad overpriced. The couple we were with both really enjoyed their meals, which were also more "bar food" based, and we all enjoyed the service beer selection and atmosphere. If it weren't for the pricing combined with the massive disappointment I felt with first cold soup and then inaccurate menu description, I probably would've rated it higher.
(3)
Heather S.
Good looking bar, and a cool looking space. There are good fries but no decent dipping sauces, and some other interesting apps. Its a small menu, but the bar serves a really great gin, just as good as Hendricks, but something i had not had before.
(4)
Jen K.
Great bar! I came here twice while in town for a conference. The first night we were regular patrons. We set up at a table and ate and drank all night long as we launched a massive new product. Food was ok. I know everyone raves about the duck fat fries, but to me they were just "eh". But the rest of the crew loved them, so I guess it was just me! Our waitress was amazing! Funny, attentive and helpful. And when a co-worker came late after the kitchen closed she even offered to go get him food. Amazeballs! We came back the second night, this time as a company renting out the facility for a conference party. We took over the entire place and the staff was amazing. For having close to 200 people there, I was amazed at how attentive the bar staff was. Everyone had a blast and the manager was very easy to work with. If we ever end up in Baltimore again for a conference and decide to host a party this would easily be my first choice!
(4)
Good For The Palate R.
Alewife is worth a drive. The specialize in beer and good food. They have a decent selection of wine, and lots of cocktails. One of the best beer selections in the Baltimore/ DC area. 40 Draft Beers, plus a very long bottle list. The staff knows their beer and is opinionated, which I appreciated. They will let you try when they can't get a handle on your preferences. As of July 2011 they are implementing a Wednesday Flight Night. They are offering 10+ different options for you to try (4) 5oz portions of beer. Trivia on Mondays. The TVs make it a great place to hang out before, after, or even during a game at Oriole's or Raven's Stadiums a few blocks away. The place can be pricy but groupons are available frequently. The food is really tasty. Their Smoke Burger is now famous. But you have to try the Vegetarian Black Bean Burger. It won me over and I'm a meat eater. Interesting condiments are well matched. Not a big fan of the Cuban sandwich or the tomato soup. Love the mussels. Go for the beer, stay for the beer.
(4)
Hilary C.
What a gem!! Came here after the Indycar Race and I can't believe we didn't find it sooner. Extensive and impressive beer selection for even the most german of drinkers. The house specialty burger was crazy tasty, and just the right size. I can't wait to return.
(4)
Devon B.
Try the smokeburger, it's amazing. The real treat here is the beer though, tons of it, this place almost singlehandedly raises Bmore to a new level of beer availability and makes it a craft brew town.
(5)
Pat Y.
what an awful experience. it is so loud it is painful. not a great place before the theater. I guess for drinking but not a pleasant conversation. ugh
(1)
Henry C.
I went there on a night before an Orioles game and they were not that busy. 1) Incredibly slow service 2) The waiter got 3 out of 8 beers wrong 3) Waiter took orders from half our party and left only to come back 20 minutes later to finish taking orders 4) The floors were incredibly slippery like they had grease spilled over it 5) 2 medium-rare burgers ordered, one was well done while the other was rare. Great concept but poor execution.
Went with my wife on Friday 12/30/11, prior to going to the Hippodrome across the street. Had read some reviews about the homey pub style of this place and it sounded good. We were not disappointed. We had the smoked 11oz. hamburger with the duck fat fries. Delicious! The burger was cooked perfectly and the combination of the top quality beef, with the grilled onions and the bacon on top was a real treat. We ended up trying a few of the many brews they have on tap...the best of which was the Dogfish Head Bitch's Brew special...a stout...The wait staff was good and the atmosphere was perfect for our night out.
(4)
Eric J.
Food was ok. Beer selection was excellent!
(3)
Marcel H.
Their selection of beer is Good, and varies with time. Atmosphere is great, food is good too. The mug-club is a rip-off. You will have to finish in a year and spend an average of $40-50 per week. That is just too steep...
(4)
Dianna P.
Great food and very friendly staff. The boar meatballs are excellent as a light meal.
(4)
Eric E.
Stopped in and had a draft beer. The place isn't really noticeable from the street so keep your eyes peeled for the sign. The stout I had was delicious. The atmosphere was typical of an English pub, cool in some ways and nothing special in other ways. It was very loud in there and hard to have a conversation. I did not order food but did try some "duck fat French fries". They fry them in duck fat which is supposed to give them a much more flavorful and moist taste. I didn't really notice a difference other than they were just flat out awesome fries. I believe they were fresh cut too. The dipping sauce was different and a very good compliment to the fries. I'd go back but not out of my way to do it.
(3)
MissEasy T.
I go here for 2 reasons: 1) Tap lineup consistently awesome and 2) I can get there via lightrail, consume a few high octane brews and get home safely (and cheaply). If not for these 2 compelling reasons, I would not bother. Food is slightly above average pub fare and bartenders spend most of their time chatting with regulars, friends and other staff members. They don't seem to care to chat w/ non-regulars and are not enthusiastic about beer. They do not constantly scan the customers seated at the bar to monitor their consumption or anticipate their needs or to just seize and opportunity to be friendly. When asked for beer suggestions, they will offer input but again, not w/ much enthusiasm. Unfortunately, bartending seems to be a dying art in Baltimore and restaurants have forgotten that a really friendly, knowledgable bartender who works at cultivating regulars can be just as much a draw as a great selection of beer and/or good food!
(3)
Brian M.
My friend and I walked to The Alewife before an O's game. I had high hopes but was disappointed. I had the smoke burger and it wasn't as great as the reviews led me to believe. I would call it mediocre at best. The high price makes me want to deem it a total failure as a burger. It was lacking flavor and dry. The burger appeared thick but when the bun was removed I could see that it was a mm thin throughout the center. I ordered the duck fat fries and I believe they were regular fries, not well cooked, with some garlic and herbs sprinkled on them. I've had duck fat fries several times and these weren't it. The beer selection is vast but the 4 beers we tried tasted like the tap lines had soured or maybe the glasses had a funky taste? I don't know. The bartender was friendly and knowledgeable and provided us with good service. The food seemed to take a long time to reach us even though It was a Thursday at 4PM and we were the only ones there. My friend ordered the "fish and chips". The fish was well prepared and tasty. The "chips" turned out to be fried yucca strips, which normally I enjoy, but these were nearly dehydrated and greasy. My friend did not eat them. I'm not a picky eater but I did not enjoy this restaurant and wouldn't go back.
(2)
Aminah F.
VERY IMPRESSED. Great service, great selection of beer and amazing pub fare. Their rockfish is delicious.
(4)
Tommy F.
The food was excellent, they had an awesome selection of craft beers and the service was good considering that liberal Canadian d-bag was in town. Great place to stop in and grub!
(5)
Danielle K.
I've only had the black bean burger and fries here - which are actually very good. It's a good place for beer, but I really like their cocktails as well. I only give this place 3-stars because despite the food and drink being good, they're pricey and the service is blah.
(3)
Zoey M.
Awesome space, love the look of the place. Beer selection on tap is impressive and so is the bottle list. I've never actually gotten a bottle because they have so many choices on tap. I feel that the drafts are priced well too. Service is sometimes slow on a busy night but every member of the staff is personable and fun. Some of the food is almost brilliant flavor-wise. There are a few misses along the way but the chef is open to experimentation so that goes with the territory. The menu can get pricey but it's really far above your usual pub grub. I do wish they had more choices on the red meat heavy menu that didn't have pork or beef but I'm sure I'm in the minority. Also, the chef has got to stop covering everything in greens. They taste great and are pretty but are so tangled it's almost impossible to eat unless you want the whole wad in your mouth. Overall, a great place to hang out and spend a few hours trying some good beer.
(4)
Brian F.
Alewife is a classic case of a potentially great location ruined by poor implementation. I took my family there right before a show at the Hippodrome... what I expected was a great beer selection and good food. What I found was quite possibly the worst service I've had in Baltimore (50min to get a sandwich), mediocre food, and it's namesake... ales... are an enigma to the staff. We love to try new things and beers are one of them... but if you're going to have an esoteric selection you had better staff your place with people who know an ale from a lager, a pale ale from a belgian, and be able to answer a wife's question such as "what do you have in a slightly sweet amber" with a better answer than... "I don't know, I don't really like beer" (I'm SERIOUS). Avoid Alewife, there are much better choices in the area. Maybe try back in a few years if they survive... which they may simply due to the location being across the street from the Hippodrome.
(1)
Andy F.
More beers than Pratt Street, Brewer's Art, etc. A great selection with something for everyone. The food was solid too. I enjoyed the kobe beef hotdog! The bartender was a great conversation and the interior was very intriguing. The surrounding area isn't overly nice to walk through, but you can get around this by walking southeast on your way out.
(5)
Jessica L.
I went to Alewife the other night and was blown away by the incredible food, awesome drink menu, and excellent service. The place had a great vibe - people were there celebrating a birthday, celebrating someone's conquering of the 150 beer list, and generally having a great time. I had the best burger I've ever had along with risotto cakes, fish tacos, and much more. I recommend going there with a group, all ordering different things and splitting so you can try as many things as possible. I can't wait to go back the next time I'm in Baltimore!
(5)
C W.
if i was to rate the bar, it might've been 5 stars...but for the restaurant, they definitely get just 1. Our burger came out raw...we asked for medium and it still looked like raw ground beef and fell/flaked apart like raw ground meat, it was disgusting.
(3)
Jonathan H.
As a graduate student who lives nearby, I have been desperate for someone to take over the space that Alewife now occupies and reinvigorate it. My prayers have been answered! The Place: Located in what appears to be an old bank near the Hippodrome, Alewife has an open concept with giant chalk-boards that serve as menus detailing the ever-changing assortment of beers available on tap and by the bottle. The main room is dark, not quiet--think Cheers, but with a higher ceiling. There is also at least one other side room that would be good to use as a meeting/private happy hour room. While the decor could be more complete, the place opened recently, so I'm giving them a pass for now. The beer: 40 beers. On tap. Need I say more? I don't need to, but I will. This beer menu doesn't feature your traditional Baltimore fare of Boh, Miller Lite, and Boston Lager. What it does feature is some great local and not-so-local beer. If you're like me, you don't spend your time researching all 40 beers. Waive any one of the waitstaff over and they'll help you out. Tell them what you like and they'll be able to point you in the right direction. Still not sure? Ask for a free taste to try before you buy. While looking up at the chalkboard may get annoying, a server assured me that printed menus were in the works. Oh, and did I mention the bottled beer selection is also huge? The food: If you've ever tried to get a bite to eat near Camden Yards at a good restaurant, then you'll understand why I think Alewife is such a necessary addition to the neighborhood. So far I've tried the smoke burger, and the cubano. I echo the comments that appear elsewhere on the smoke burger (one of the top 10 burgers I've had), and will say that the cubano was tasty, crispy, and wonderful. I wished the salad accompanying the cubano had a little more to it, but that's a nit that should be worked out as the kitchen gets its legs under itself. My other minor quibble is with the tempura fennel frites--at $6, the portion size should be bigger. That being said, they were really tasty. The service: As I said above, the staff is very eager to help you out when deciding over beer. This helpfulness extends to food as well. My water glass is always full throughout my stay and they're happy to hang around or stay away. In short, they do exactly what someone who's running a gastropub like this should do when running the front of the house. I sincerely hope that Alewife stays around. My feeling is that if they keep it up, they will.
(5)
Mike W.
Alewife is great! My wife and I recently ate here for a birthday dinner. I had the fillet, she had the kobe beef hot dog. Both were delicious. The hot dog was served in a pretzel roll with buffalo chili and three kinds of handmade mustard. It could not have been better. The fillet could have had a little more flavor, but was cooked well and delicious. But the real reason one goes to Alewife is for the beer. I had the Stone Brewery's Levitation and then the Evolution IPA. When I was uncertain or unfamiliar with a beer choice, the waitstaff was informative and would even bring out a shot for tasting. I'll keep coming back to Alewife as often as I have the opportunity.
(5)
sarah b.
the food pisses me off and the female bartender will serve every man before ever making eye contact with any females waiting to order (not just me, seriously). that being said, i cannot find a better IPA selection in this town so i will keep going back.
(4)
Alicyn D.
Two friends and I went here on Tuesday night, prior to seeing Jersey Boys at The Hippodrome. I made a reservation, knowing full well they would probably get a lot of theater traffic. We were sat fairly quickly and had a great seat in the window. For drinks, I had the Delirium Tremens and my friends had the Baltimore Seasonal and Castro's Passion cocktails. All were delicious. For dinner I had the Alewife Salad (one of the best starter salads I've ever had! Asparagus, Greens, Pears, and Bleu Cheese), the Tuna Tartare Appetizer (delicious and great quality), and an order of Duck Fat Fries for the table (crisp and tasty). My friends both had the salad too, the Smoke Burger (I heard it was tasty) and the Cuban Sandwich (I heard it was good as well). We couldn't stop talking about the food after we left. The service was good too. I will definitely come back here, even when not going to a show. I love the atmosphere, the food, and especially love the beer selection! I since paid a visit here and had the Crab Deviled Eggs as an appetizer - interesting but good. I also had the Smoke House Burger (An 11oz House Ground Ribeye, Brisket, Skirt and Filet of Beef Burger, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere Cheese, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun) which was OUT OF THIS WORLD! If you love burgers, you must try this.
(4)
Jess F.
I thought that I was really going to LOVE Alewife, but was majorly disappointed. To give credit where it is due, the space is fantastic- just as great as when it was Maggie Moore's. The beer list is phenomenal, and the menu is exciting. However, we went on a Tuesday night at 8 pm and while it was busy (likely due to groupon/living social coupons expiring the next day) it wasn't like it was a full house. Our drinks arrived in a timely manner, but we waited an hour for our appetizer (which it should be pointed out was only a bowl of soup- a pretty good one, actually). Then, we waited over another hour for our food. The waitress kept assuring us it would be just a few more minutes (through no fault of her own, I should point out), but the kitchen just didn't have it together. The table of two next to us, who were seated at the same time we were, were already finished were their food (ironically, they placed the same order we did) at that point. As it had been 2 hours and 15 minutes since we were seated, we politely asked the waitress if we could just pay for the drinks/soup and be on our way. At 10:15, we had little interest left in even eating the long awaited food. She asked if we'd be interested in at least taking the food to-go, on the house (which seemed fair). The smoke burger and the Kobe beef hot dog were just okay- although I suspect that being packaged up and steaming in the to-go boxes took away from what they might have been otherwise. The duck-fat fries were not in fact duck-fat fries, or at least were nothing like any duck-fat fries we've ever had previously. Was the food bad? No. Was it fabulous? No. I'd absolutely go back for beers, but doubt I'd be ordering food (as good as it sounds on the menu) unless I had lots of time to kill waiting around for it.
(2)
Andrea F.
Good food and excellent beer list but man is it SLOW service!!!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Christian C.
Was excited to try this place out after seeing the head chef hanging out with Andrew Zimmern on Bizarre Foods (not that I was expecting to eat bugs or anything weird). After a really long wait, our group of 5 was unceremoniously seated in a room on the 2nd floor with no windows, no view, nothing. Oh, it was right across the hall from the women's bathroom. Gross. Avoid this room at all cost. We were starving so we stayed put. During our interminable wait for a table, I checked out the menu and was impressed with their beer offerings so I was really looking forward to trying some new brews. When I ordered my flight, I was informed that there was only one bartender working and they were slammed so I wouldn't be able to pick what beers I wanted in my flight. Say what? Fail. The shrimp po boy that I ordered was nothing to write home about, but the fries that came with it cooked in duck fat were delicious. My friends ordered the Smoke burger which was fantastic. The patty was huge but still cooked to perfection, and the different cheeses and the brioche bun tied it all together. If I ever come back, THAT'S what I'm ordering (as long as there is more than one bartender working).
(2)Luke B.
Being from Boston, I had to visit Alewife while in Baltimore. Huge beer selection and we were able to sample our beer before we ordered a full one. The food was fantastic. I had the smoke burger and it was AWESOME!!!! My girlfriend had the mac & cheese and it was amazing. The duck fat fries were to die for! Service was exceptional and they were knowledgeable about the food and beer selection.
(5)Bex G.
I had such high hopes for this place with their beer list and location. We made a reservation on open table and when they tried to seat us, it was a windowless cave and hardly any light. The whole restaurant was open and the hostess made a comment that they were all booked for the evening. She finally moved up to a room with light. We ordered beer and that was good. If you are going to have a menu with limited food items then they should be good. We ordered the brussels sprouts and fried artichokes for an appetizer for our table to four. When they arrived, not plates were given to us and I saw our server give plates to a table that was seated after us. The fried artichoke hearts were good enough, but the brussels sprouts were under cooked, not roasted and lacked all flavor. I had to fix them with some salt and pepper. Since the server never came to check on us, I had to get up and go ask for salt and pepper because there were none on the tables. We ordered the $16 burger for our main meal it at least filled me up before the baseball game. But for $16, I wouldnt order it again. I asked for medium and the burger was well done. I asked for an extra side of mayo, only to find out that they charged me $0.50 for less than 2 ounces and didnt give me a warning about this would happen. It looks like the chef should focus less on invasive species on the menu and either train the cooks to make flavorful food. Also, dont put a dish on a very limited menu already if it isnt going to be great. By the way, Manny Machado is an invasive species, so they should consider putting him on the menu (Go A's!) After this poor experience, I will not visit this establishment again. For those that want beer, only go for the beer and that is all.
(1)Dave F.
Came for Happy Hour. Their happy hour consists of roughly 12 drafts (the list changes as they run out of beer), 2 wines, beer mussels, a taco of the day, and duck fries; where each of these are $5 from 4-7pm. While they did have 40 taps for beer, we stuck to the happy hour menu as we were bar-hopping. The beer list rotates, but they seem to stock heavily in stone and flying dog beer. I saw a smattering of random stuff from Yards to Boulevard to Ballast Point brewing companies. From the happy hour list, we had a Terrapin pumpkinfest, hofbau oktoberfestbier, gaffel kolsch, and the taco of the day which was chimi churri flavored. The beers were awesome, the taco was rather bland. A group next to us got the duck fat fries and they looked pretty good, but alas we wanted to hit up a few other bars. Service was also really good. Both bartenders were quick and on top of things. The decor was your average bal'more bar setting. Huge ceilings, kinda divey and old looking. Several TV's also allow you to catch a game if thats what you were into. I'd come back if I was in the mood for trying more exotic and distant beers and maybe try food off the real menu, but the taco was not a good indication of the food if that was the only thing I could use to judge them.
(3)Patrick M.
Good beer. Lots to chose. Stone self righteous. Yum Good appetizers before the show.
(5)Elsa M.
Since everyone gets the burgers, let me put ya'll up on game: next time you go, skip it just once and try a salad instead. I can hear you now and I don't want to hear: try it and THEN come back and thank me. I damn near licked the bowl of the Alewife Salad after I finished. Juicy chunks of chicken made their home on a bed of fresh mixed greens, asparagus, and crumbly light blue cheese. Pears lightly seasoned with cinnamon and candied walnuts added some crunch and a bit of sweetness. I paired my salad with a glass of Riesling, which made my lunch break absolutely perfect. I haven't had a salad that good in AGES! I was rushing from meeting to meeting and my server was beyond nice and accommodating to my tight schedule. There weren't a lot of people in there, but I knew that he had work to do as he and another employee were busy getting ready for dinner. Still, he was more than friendly and took the time to explain everything on the menu, which I appreciated. I know Alewife is all about the beer, but the smells of good times and spilt beer overwhelmed me a bit when I walked in. I wasn't expecting it to be that strong in the middle of the day. Eventually I got used to it, but that was my only deduction in stars. I totally get why others (less picky than I, I suppose) gave it five.
(4)Rochelle M.
Currently in town for a business trip. This place is a MUST for anyone visiting. A very large selection of different beers. Even though I don't drink any, they also have some cider. I highly recommend the Original Sin Cider Elderberry. For atmosphere, it has a cozy pub feel. Clean with an ambiance of a laid back local place. The servers are awesome. The one my friends and I had was a gal named Sarah. She was very attentive to our needs and well knowledgable on the different brews and menu items. The place is a bit above moderate prices, but the food is excellent. Had the empanadas as an appetizer that was delicious that came with a yummy arugula salad and black bean mix. For my entree, I had the fish tacos that had sweet potato fries that first had taken me aback, but worked really well. I normal end up getting the remainder of my food to go, but I finished every last bite. The menu has a decent but small variety of items, but very diverse for people of all needs. My vegetarian friend had the vegetable ragout that looked very good and apparently was because he finished all of it. I'm here for a few more weeks and will be visiting again.
(5)Jordan M.
Had a beautiful experience here in a crazy snowstorm - the waitress on duty, Elise, was friendly and communicative during this winter armageddon and the food and drink was excellent. They stayed open with a smile in a blizzard and provided a fantastic and chill environment to weather the storm. I Highly recommend Alewife !
(5)Erin H.
The duck fat fried are AMAZING along with the smoke burger that my husband ordered. I ordered the grilled cheese and I was pretty disappointed, the flavors were good but they were really stingy on the cheese so I ate all my husbands fries. = ) They have a HUGE beer selection and they even let you try a few if you are unsure of what type of beer you would like. The prices weren't bad but those fries are just beyond amazing. We will go back the next time we're in the area.
(5)Michael Z.
Overwhelmingly mediocre complimented with abhorrent service and outrageous prices. After I had consumed my $9 and $7.50 beers, which were good, but hardly worth the price of a 6 pack of specialty crated or imported beers. My friends received equally subpar service with their $10 coke and jacks (weak) and $10 margaritas which were made so slow that I could feel my beard growing (also weak). Luckily they were strong enough and I was inebriated enough to go without noticing that I had sat at my table for 15 minutes as I spoke with my friends. After ordering I had waited for well over 30 minutes, near 40, (keeping in mind it is dead) for my food which was unimpressive to say the least. Which, of course, I still could not eat due to the fact that half the table was missing dinnerware. I ordered the gumbo and received a Luke warn plate with uncooked rice. The same can be said for 3 other people at my table. I was able to speak to my waitress after 5 minutes and order new food. After another 10-15 I received my dish finally properly prepared and had finished and sat for another 5-10 before my other friends had received their replacement meals, the smoke burger... Which should have been chicken. After being here for 3, yes THREE, hours we had finally received our checks. Which the 10 of us had received in a pile and had to sort through ourselves. Only one of the 4 of us with botched orders had some effort of compensation for their terrible service. After paying the check, cards and bills were improperly matched and charged wrong. I'm exhausted, I'm done, I'm paying and cutting my loses and never coming back. If you heat your home by burning money and love going places to be ignored and charged steep prices for something you can prepare at home in half the time for a quarter of the cost, then this is the place for you.
(1)Colleen D.
I think my husband and I fell in instant love with this place. It's in easy walking distance to the pier and touristy downtown but doesn't seem to be primarily a tourist destination. The ambiance is nice- warm wood, rustic and casual, but definitely clean and fun. There are a few TVs (showing the Ravens game, of course), and huge chalkboard listings of the beers on tap to supplement the huge menu of offerings. I'm going to come out and say it- I'm not a beer person. I've tried, and I like to experience new beers, but I'm still not that into it. I do, however, appreciated quality and I was impressed by the offerings of crafted brews. My husband (who IS the beer snob) was over the moon with it all. I stuck with the house cocktails, trying the Re-Root: a rootbeer liqueur with vodka and Baileys... It was the perfect adult rootbeer float with a nice, sharp kick to it. The cocktail selection is unique and varied and I'm excited to go back and try more.at What I was most excited about was the menu. We're new to the area and I'm always suspicious of the quality of vegetarian offerings. Alewife nailed it! No sad wilted salads and pasta primavera for me. I had an amazing grilled cheese (goat milk cheddar, arugula, an tomato jam) paired with a smoky, robust soup. It was like heaven. The menu also offers some delicious salad options, a black bean burger, truffle mac and cheese, and a stuffed chile relleno (which I plan on trying the next time in although the mac and cheese is mighty tempting...) They offer lunch and dinner menus. The prices are definitely worth the quality. The servers and staff are attentive, knowledgeable, an friendly. This is definitely going to be a spot of multiple returns and bringing friends and family to when they come visit the area!
(5)Jonathan S.
I've been to Alewife many times and normally have a good time. They have a decent, ever-changing beer selection and excellent food. But the service is typically subpar, and my last experience there was terrible (see below). A group including myself were attending a 7:00 O's game, so we went to Alewife beforehand and were seated at 5:30. The restaurant was busy, but no more than usual. We waited 10 minutes for service, and put in our food orders at 5:40. At 6:30 (1 hour after we were seated) we were told the food would be 5 more minutes. It wasn't until 6:55, nearly 1.5hrs after we arrived, that the food came out. By then it was too late, and we had to leave without eating in order to make the O's game. The experience was extremely disappointing, as I have been going to Alewife for a number of years. Being busy is no excuse b/c 1) it is ALWAYS busy, and 2) three tables seated after us got their food 15min before us. The wait staff provided many excuses, but no solutions or apologies. I will not be back for a while.
(2)Chris F.
Yummy food, quick service and nice ambiance. It can get a bit loud and boisterous, but it's a bar, so waddya expect? Fries are good, duck fat or not, burgers are good, fish is cooked right. Those that drink enjoy the beer selection. Love that they put invasive species on the menu. And they are yummy!
(5)Corey M.
Can I get a witness! Church! A church indeed; Alewife is a beautifully renovated house of god. And if the man upstairs wanted to have anything, it's a delicious gastropub for all your gluttonous and sinful needs. A long and colorful selection of beers can been seen artfully displayed on a chalkboard hanging up high on the wall. No happy hour, but more than reasonably priced booze. Loads of great options for food. Somethings they were out of or weren't serving due to the quality of the ingredients. I appreciate that. It's nice to know the chefs/bartenders are looking out for you! Great and super personable server. Perfect post inner harbor experience. Already recommended to friends. And what's the best part? You're can do as the bawldymoreans do and mebbe 'lax by the wooder ron th' in'r habah!
(4)J K.
Went for lunch on Sunday March 2 before our 1pm show at the hippodrome. Seated at 11:35 - fairly empty. Finally ordered our food from the inattentive waitress at 11:50. It was approaching 12:30 and we were getting nervous about our food. Others seated after us had ordered and finished eating. Asked waitress about it at 12:30, and she said she would check on it. Said that they were getting slammed - yes it got busy after we ordered our food. We wanted to meet the manager and we were directed to talk with the bartender who really didn't care one bit. "I'll check on the food," he said while not making eye contact and not doing anything about it. Food finally showed up at 12:45 which we wolfed down and paid and left. Staff were rude. Never offered to fix the situation. Never offered an explanation. So we were there for over an hour before we got our food. And almost late to the show. Majorly disappointing. The worst part is that the bartender and waitress didn't give one flying eff.
(2)Maura g.
We made a reservation at 8pm Saturday, when we arrived we were greeted by a friendly hostess who was aware of the reservation and told us we had the "best seat in the house". She guided us to the staircase where we were stopped by a very nasty waitress who was extremely rude to the hostess and didn't want us to sit in her section because she didn't want any more tables. The hostess guided us back down the stairs and our "best seat in the house" turned into a tiny table on a shared bench right by the front door and cold air. Although the location was now pretty much the worst in the house, we may have been better off. Our waiter was very pleasant and knowledgeable about the on tap beers and was even able to find one I liked, someone that usually would avoid beer. We ordered the braised pork and the airliner chicken for our meals, but we're not impressed, neither were very good or even butchered correctly, however everyone around us that had bar food loved it and it all looked and smelled amazing. I will probably try the place again, but stick to the bar menu and avoid the nasty waitress who walked around scoffing at people the entire time.
(3)Dan A.
Decided to come here for lunch the other day as I really wanted a beer (yeah, it's been that kind of a week haha). Heard good things about this place but never had the chance to check it out... Anyways, Alewife is located in the same building Lucy's Pub used to be in.... this is a good thing because the building is absolutely beautiful! I ordered the Smoke burger (medium done) there with duck fat fries ($3 extra) and a Dogfish Head My Antonia. For some reason the menu states that the smoke burger may take extra time to make... Not sure exactly why that is but just thought I'd throw it out there... Nevertheless, the food came out in a reasonable amount of time (15-20min). The portions looked small initially but it's actually quite filling. The burger came closer to medium-well than medium (there was no pink at all in the meat) but it was still very moist. A good amount of bacon was stacked on the inside and there was a slightly spicy aioli n the burger as well. Would have preferred a tad bit more of the aioli though as the flavor wasn't readily noticeable. Overall, it was a pretty solid burger, though it wasn't particularly amazing in my opinion. The duck fat fries were okay. They were a little bit on the saltier side of things and were a little thicker cut. I'd have preferred the thinner, crunchier duck fat fries from B&O Brasserie or Brewer's Art though. The beer list there was pretty substantial. Not as much as Max's in Fells Point but it was still a very solid list with many great craft options. The DFH My Antonia was a pretty solid beer to pair with the duck fat fries by the way. Unfortunately, the only problem here is that the food seemed a little overpriced here. My burger, duck fat fries, and beer lunch turned out to be $25 (NOT including tip)! Now, I don't mind paying a lot of money for food if the quality is good... And dont get me wrong, Alewife has good food.... But I didn't feel that Alewife's food deserved to command such a high price...especially considering you could get the all-you-can-eat steak lunch at Fogo De Chao for a few bucks more. My beer craving may have been satisfied....but I also left somewhat disappointed. 3.5 stars rounded down to a 3.
(3)David Z.
Had a huge selection of draft and bottled beers to choose from. They let you sample the draft beers before choosing which made selecting easier. Ordered the smoke burger with duck fries and enjoyed every bite of it. Also, they played very chill music such as Sublime, RHCP, etc and had cool art displayed throughout the place.
(5)Jack Straw S.
I was working at the convention center and was looking to escape and found myself walking towards the Hippodrome and there is the Alewife. Its a stinky alehouse that had a good beer selection but I was there to eat. I had the Smoke Burger with Duck Fat Fries. The Burger was awesome cooked to medium rare perfection, super juicy and great flavor in the meat and the bacon and cheese made it mouthwatering.....and it was huge. The duck fat fries sucked !!! They were cold and stale. I ate at the bar and it was not that busy and the bartender did not check on me once. I had to ask for my drink to be refilled(diet coke) twice. Overall I would go back for the burger sans the duck crap fries and certainly not for the service.
(3)Kate F.
Incredible beer selection. We had the thai peanut wings to start, and the sauce that comes with them is just delicious. My fiance had the short rib, which melted in my mouth when I stole a bite, and I had the crab cake, which was paired well with a light salad. We also shared an order of the duck fat fries, and they were absolutely phenomenal. I can't say enough about the beer selection here. The bottle list is extensive and includes some extremely hard-to-find imports and limited releases. Drafts were also impressive, with a great mix of styles and flavor profiles. The only reason I'm giving this bar a 4-star review is the bar service. I waited at the bar for 10 minutes before I was asked if I'd like a drink, and it took an additional 10 minutes to get someone's attention to close us out. Not impressed.
(4)Nancy K.
This place has horrible food. Three of us each ordered the smoke burger with duck fat fries, and all three of us were greatly disappointed. We all ordered the burgers to be cooked medium but they ranged from well done, to burnt, to charred. The fries were cold and dry, with hardly any duck fat flavor. To add insult to injury, my friend ordered a side of chipotle aioli (for 50 cents extra), and it basically tasted like nothing but mayo. My friend (who used to be a regular) suggested that they must have changed chefs. The one saving grace was that the bartender confirmed our suspicions and admitted that there was a new cook. He then recommended that we come back again (but only AFTER 4 pm). So if I ever do go back, I will definitely take that advice... but... as Yelp puts it: "Eek! Methinks not." NOM tip: Make sure you go when the evening cook is there... AFTER 4 pm!!
(1)Kyle H.
Came here on our anniversary get away weekend. Bartender was super friendly. This place has great history and he told us all about it! My wife's phone was dying and he let her plug it in behind the bar! Fantastic service! We are IPA Fans and the Farmhouse IPA for Flying Dog and Baltimore Full tilt did not disappoint! Definitely recommend this place if you are in the area!
(5)AM F.
Would definitely come back here again when in Baltimore. Very good beer selection and excellent smoke burger.
(4)Emily L.
Alewife had SO much going for it when it opened. Gorgeously rehabbed interior. Hugely adventurous beer list. Inventive menu. Unfortunately, poor management and service have spoiled it for us (and those we know) a number of times, but still, the food and atmosphere make it worth visiting on "off hours" when it's not obscenely crowded. Their beer list is justly revered all over the city: 40 constantly-changing taps of extremely diverse varieties. Regardless of your tastes, and even if you think you don't like beer, you WILL find something you love here. If you are pretty open-minded and love beer, as I do, you will feel more than a little anxiety about trying to make a decision. We've never had a bad meal there, either. The burger, for me, is just okay, overwhelmed by all the toppings, and it's never cooked exactly the way we order it (sometimes too rare, sometimes overdone.) Their duck-fat fries are amazing, and get the fennel fries if they're in season. I almost always talk someone into splitting an Alewife salad with me for a first course: with chicken it could be a meal, but even without, the combination of nuts, cheese and fruit atop lightly-dressed greens is a perfect starter before a heavy entree. Calamari is great. Crab cakes are a little too gourmet for me; I prefer the old-fashioned variety with Old Bay and lots of fresh meat. Two entrees deserve their own paragraph: first, the Shrimp Po-Boy, which is prepared exactly the way they make them at the best Cajun dives in Louisiana. The bread is fluffy-chewy, and the remoulade spicy and creamy -- with shredded lettuce and lightly-battered crispy shrimp, it's an amazing meal. Second, the Kobe beef hot dog, smothered in buffalo chili and gouda cheese and served on a pretzel roll. I haven't been here for dinner in quite awhile, but I remember the Airliner Chicken, though it seemed steep, was worth every penny; the fish tacos were also delicious. The management and service problems? In short, they keep firing their best employees, from bar to kitchen. I don't get it, but the people I know who still work there tell me there's a lot of drama behind the scenes, from factions to personal grudges. The servers who are left are pretty inattentive; some don't know anything about beer (at a craft pub?!) and they're all pretty generous with eyerolls if you don't order enough food, ask for a substitution or want to change tables. I wish I could just stop going once and for all, but the food and beer are just too good! So: if you enter with low expectations on the service end, and don't mind a loud, crowded atmosphere, you could really enjoy yourself. Here's hoping they tap into their full potential sometime soon!
(3)Guinevere N.
The interior is beautiful, the staff are kind and the food is delicious. Pricey, but fair given the quality and the variety. The beer list is high caliber if a bit lacking.
(4)Brian P.
North Coast Old Rasputin - Imperial Stout. Unbelievably good. WOW. Smoke Burger with Duck Fat Fries for dinner. Awesome. Incredible beer selection for beer fanatics. Many, many on draught and tons of rare beers in bottles.
(5)Marc F.
Sticky floors, surprisingly decent food, but portions way too small. So wanted to try the beer, but was here for lunch with work colleagues and had an important meeting afterward. Beer breath would have been bad. Ate the crabcake, which was tasty. But way too small for the oversized bun. Salad good too. Alewife must have had one heck of a crowd the night before. Floors sticky and place smelled like my college fraternity house on a Sunday afternoon--carelessly cleaned by a bunch of hungover pledges who put too much bleach in the way too dirty mop water. Assuming the beer wasn't skunked and the glasses are clean, if I could have drank, the sticky floors and small portions could have been overlooked. Because I didn't have the true alewife experience with good beer, my 2 star rating might be a bit low. BUT, don't be open for lunch in a district with lots of non drinking hospital staff. Perhaps better at night as an actually bar or a place for happy hour?
(2)Modyssey G.
Not impressed. I came here after seeing "The Book of Mormon" at the Hippodrome with my parents and my boyfriend. Our waiter was nice enough, albeit a little snooty, but whatever. The food was sooooo unimpressive. I had read the Yelp reviews about Alewife before going there, and I had read about the smoke burger. Unfortunately when I actually had the opportunity to go to Alewife, I didn't feel like eating a burger so I got some forgettable fancy schmancy grilled cheese and tomato soup. What a huge mistake. There was some nasty minty crap on the grilled cheese that completely ruined it. $12 and some change for grilled cheese and mediocre tomato soup. I admit, that was mostly my poor decision making, but my father and boyfriend ordered the oysters casino, and what a pathetic sight that was! 4-5 of the most measly oysters you've ever seen, fried down to nearly nothing, with a large amount of arugula to cover up how much you're getting ripped off. $16 each and you leave still hungry? No thank you! My mom liked her caesar salad well enough, but not enough to go back. I am a burger freak, but I don't think I'll go back, not even to try the smoke burger. So disappointing.
(2)K. E.
Trying to check out local beers on my own without straying too far from my convention hotel -- this was a good find. It was too early for dinner, but I tried the chicken liver pate along with my beer selections, assisted by the friendly bartender. All good. Wish I could go back again! Thanks, Baltimore, you are treating a single lady from out of town pretty well.
(4)A. C.
(11/21/2013) We've patronized Alewife many times over the years, it was a go-to place for gatherings on the west side, convenient to the Hippodrome, UMMS, State Center. We've always planned extra time knowing that the service is slow, but now we're done for good. Went in for lunch, had orders taken pretty promptly (4 Smoke Burgers, 1 Turkey Burger). Over the course of a full hour saw 2 tables receive and eat their food (Smoke Burgers even), pay their checks and leave. No one came to update us on progress or even apologize. When finally asked, the server said that a lot of people came in all at once. Duh, it's lunch time, be prepared. We finally just left and went to Nando's Peri Peri at Baltimore and Paca Streets; quick, friendly, oh, and I finally got to eat and it was delicious.
(1)Carrie O.
I think that our visit tonight to Alewife easily qualifies as the disappointment of the century. We'd bookmarked this place a long time ago, impressed by the glowing reviews and the extensive beer/ale list, the declarations of the best burgers in town, etc. So it was to our intense disillusionment that the hype turned out, indeed, to be all hype. We arrived at 7pm on a Saturday night, fully expecting to wait for a table (our reservation was for 9pm in anticipation of this), but to our surprise, we were seated right away. The decor IS impressive, I will say that - the old space was renovated nicely and it does look classy. And the service was on point - our waitress was friendly and accommodating, though not overly so. Unfortunately, that's where the praise for Alewife ends. The food was just... sigh, I can't even begin to describe how let-down we felt. LoML ordered the chile relleno plate, and to our shock, they brought out one sad-looking, medium-sized pepper on a bed of tomato sauce and corn niblets. That's IT. For sixteen dollars, you would have THOUGHT he'd at least get some rice on the side. But, nothing. Absolutely nothing. He was still hungry after eating that sad looking thing, and it's no wonder. I felt so badly that I offered to get him something else! (For what it's worth, he said that the flavor was excellent, absolutely divine - it was simply just not ENOUGH.) I ordered the "famous" smoke burger and fries platter - and let me tell you something, if THIS is considered Baltimore's "best" burger, people simply need to get out more. The chipotle sauce was the ONLY thing that set it apart from other burgers that I've had - in honesty, I told LoML that I could probably make a better burger at home, and without the steep price tag, to boot. The duck fat fries were, in a word, atrocious - neither of us liked them at all. LoML had two specialty drafts, one of which he enjoyed and the other he did not. I had a specialty cocktail, the Ginger Grant, which I thought was VERY weak - it was so watered down that I didn't even get a buzz from it, and I have alcoholic drinks maybe once or twice in a blue moon, so trust me - if I didn't get buzzed, there was little to no alcohol in it. We paid nearly 70 dollars with tip for our meal, and I consider it, unfortunately, 70 dollars wasted. To top it all off, I'm laying here feeling rather ill and I have a nasty feeling that Alewife's so-called "gourmet menu" might have a rather large reason to do with that. Needless to say, we will not be back.
(2)Bob L.
Last night I met with a group for a business meeting at Alewife and it was the best experience I have had here. What made the night? Without a doubt it was the service. Josh was amazing. Attentive, prompt, present, and, yes, he knew the hell out of the beer he was tasked with serving. One of the things I love most about Alewife is their obvious passion for beer. I wanted to give Josh a chance to show me. For my first beer I just said, "Pick one for me." Not only did he nail the first choice with a unique Belgian IPA from Stone called Cali-Belgique he even offered me up a sample of a Flemish sour (a notorious least favorite style of mine) from Allagash called Vrienden. I'm not a sour convert, but it actually wasn't bad. The hits kept coming after that with a Dogfish Head Midas Touch bookended with a Wyerbacher Simcoe IPA. Stunning brews, every one. For dinner all four of us ordered the smoke burger and, as expected, it was gut-busting brilliance. I'll keep this one short and sweet. This experience was exactly what I've been craving from Alewife and thanks to Chef Chad and Josh for making it happen. Cheers!
(4)Steve S.
For a long while this was one of the few places really close to the Hippodrome for pre-show dinners, and even though there have recently been some new options opening in the area, this is still a favorite for most. Their beer list is extensive, and always includes at least a few seasonal options, and interesting brews that are not easily found elsewhere (be sure to try their wide variety of pumpkin ales, if visiting in the fall). The menu is consistently pretty good, and mostly made up of more upscale versions of traditional tavern food. The mac & cheese, mussels, and honey-sriracha wings are always favorites. The shrimp & grits, and wild boar sliders, should probably be skipped. The restaurant is located in an old bank building, with really cool architecture and 2 story ceilings. Biggest point of advise: Make sure to make reservations if you want to dine, as the place fills up & gets crowded (almost uncomfortably so), especially on show nights! The hightop table next to the front window is easily the best seat in the house. Or ask for one of the balcony seats for the best people viewing! I have never not gotten the table of my request when reserving on "opentable.com".
(4)Heidi R.
The smoke burger and duck fat fries were maybe the best burger I've ever eaten. And the fries were fantastic!
(5)Nicole L.
I've been to Alewife a few times. Friday nights are madness, especially if there is a performance at one of the local theatres. The extensive selection of beer is fun to play with, but my favorite thing about the restaurant is the burger! So good!
(4)D Q.
Ask for your correct change. Ordered one drink at the bar, ask to pay for it, got a receipt for $7.63. I gave $10, the bartender slapped down $2 change and walked away... hate places that do this, it's incredibly insulting to your customers' money and patronage.
(3)Helen C.
My friends and I got dinner here to celebrate being done with our first exam - I think this was the perfect place for that! It was such a fun place to be, especially because Monday is trivia night. We were awful at trivia, but it was still fun to try. Everyone liked their food, and a bunch of us ordered the smoke burger. I personally wasn't a huge fan just because there was too much meat and patty was so thick, but of course this appeals to some people and it's all a matter of personal taste. Our waiter was very accommodating of us - a large group of 10 - so I really appreciated that. Overall, I would come back again, definitely for drinks.
(4)Neelam P.
Nice selection of beers from all around...happy hour until 7pm.
(4)Britt E.
Great beer selection. Cool atmosphere and vibe. Found the food a bit lacking. Fish tacos didn't have much fish, didn't include a side. Mahi Mahi, was delicious, but portions were skimpy. Only accompanied by salsa and 4 skinny pieces of asparagus. Burger was excellent. Apparently this is what most people order.
(3)Amy P.
This is a great place for a beer, everyone knows that. It's never crowded, and the hipster-looking dudes at the bar tend to be nice. I've had the burgers and they are awesome, but my favorite is the truffle mac and cheese. The guyere and truffles...with a nice IPA makes for a perfect weekend afternoon. It can get a little loud when they decide to crank up the music or the game, but that's just me being old and cantankerous. My only word of caution is to skip the yucca fries, but that may just be a personal preference. I don't like yucca. They keep their menu updated with new offerings, just like the taps. It is right across from the Hippodrome so be careful on which night you do. But do GO!
(4)Herman C.
Awesome burgers and a huge list of craft beers. Will come back! The duck fat fries were nom nom
(5)Rick L.
Wow great place and stellar beer selection. I stayed at The Kimpton Monaco so it was about a 3 block walk. Read the reviews from fellow Yelpers and decided to make the trek I had the smokehouse burger and it was perfect. Extensive draft beer selection....let the bartender know your style and they will point you in the right direction. Bonus...great tunes!
(4)Ed W.
The Smoke Burger was cooked perfectly. We had one cooked medium and one medium rare and they were executed just as they should be. For only a few dollars more than a burger at any other restaurant, here you get a far superior product. The bacon, cheese, and bun shared the same quality. Nothing was overlooked here. My only complaint was the lack of domestic beers. I don't care who you are, sometimes you just want a Bud Light.....
(4)Jessie H.
We have been here a few times now, and I have enjoyed it every time. Unfortunately, if tonight would have been my first night at the Alewife, I would never return. Everyone ordered their meals. An entree salad came out in 10 minutes for the first person. My mussels came out in about 15 minutes. The burgers, steak, & calamari came out in about 50 minutes. It wasn't even very busy. And I was not sure why everything was spaced out. My mussels were definitely lacking "muscle". They were very small & "stringy", if that makes any sense. Additionally, i was barely given any "wine sauce" with them, and some toasted pieces of white bread. I could barely get through half of them, they were that unappealing. Husband had the steak. It was probably 1/8 of an inch thick, cooked medium (why this took 50 minutes, not idea). The sweet mashed potatoes had a horrible flavor and I couldn't even enjoy the asparagus. I think he did enjoy the steak, itself, but in no means was it worth the $$. My friend got the calamari, that honestly looked like they only brought out about 1/2 of it. And yes, that was cold too (reminder 50 minutes!). To top it all off, our waiter was quite aloof. Definitely thought he was the bus boy, that had no personality and honestly could care less if we enjoyed our evening. It was a nice night out with friends & we were running late to a show so we didn't even feel like complaining. Although, I left feeling ripped off for paying $65 for a meal we didn't enjoy. At least the wine was good! The only silver lining. I am really hoping this was a one time occurrence, because I would love to return.
(1)Wes J.
This is a great place for a burger and beer. I had the Smoke Burger, which was very thick and I ordered well done. I was not disappointed. The cheese, bacon, and onions were great, although a little overshadowed by the enormous amount of beef in every bite. It was a really good burger, but if the meat were a bit more tastier, it could have been a great burger. The crowing achievement of this place was the incredible variety of beers. I am from the West Coast and so I am accustomed to a very good beer selection at almost every place I go, so I was very pleased to peruse the full menu page of beers on tap and two pages of bottled beers had top names from all over. Just to mention a few, Dogfishead from Deleware, Rogue from Oregon, and San Diego's Stone, who for my money puts out the best quality product with everything their name touches. So to see Arrogant Bastard, Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, and Old Guardian listed here, made me smile. The atmosphere was a little loud, but it seemed like a fun crowd. We were there for dinner and didn't stay to see the place get crowded, but it's not hard to imagine it to have a very lively night life. I would definitely come here agian.
(4)Dixon M.
I went to the Alewife with a friend, and we both loved it. The place was very busy, but service was still friendly, efficient and very accommodating. Both of us ordered smokeburgers, and they were fantastic. Cooked exactly to our specifications. The fried were also wonderful. I was curious about beer cocktails, so I ordered a Hop Betty. It was delicious: a citrusy, hoppy concoction. I would definitely visit the Alewife again!
(4)Liz M.
Got in here around 7:00pm before one-minute plays at EMP. We were asked if we had reservations which I still think is weird for a pub. It was slammed in there, but we inched our way to bar stools next to a couple that I'm pretty sure were doing CPR incorrectly. We got the mussels which some people have said weren't great. These were okay. Nothing remarkable, but they definitely gave us a lot to eat. I got the catfish tacos which were great. The texture from the fried sweet potatoes was needed after the fish was dressed to a soggy mess. Despite having only three tacos on the plate, I was stuffed afterwards. Obviously, people go for the beer. They had a good list of good breweries, but I just wasn't in love with which brews they chose on draft. I should've looked at the bottle list, but after a stout I moved to the mixed drinks. I missed out on the Bacon Bloody Bry(i)an, but everything else was tasty. I really liked this place. It's not in an ideal location, across from the Hippodrome, but I would swing by if I was in the area.
(4)Tim M.
Stopped in here on a Sunday afternoon before a concert at the Arena. Had the duck fat fries, and the duck confit along with a Dogfish Indian Brown. It's interesting decor - might have been a bank at one time - there is a private table in what appears to have been the vault once. I bet this is a hot spot at night. Wife had the smoked tomato soup and grilled cheese. This is NOT your average pub food - everything has a slight upscale twist. Duck fat fries come with sriracha mayo. Service was good and so was the food - duck confit is pricey $22 for a leg & thigh with 4 spears of asparagus and some risotto. A bit high if you ask me. I'd go back - but I'd rather go if they were located in Annapolis. Baltimore and this location - are a pit. I wouldn't be there after dark myself. Reported not remotely humbly this day, D. Food Snob, PHD.
(3)Rob N.
Alewife makes great use of it's dramatic bar space. Originally a bank, then insurance company, the tall ceiling and huge amounts of wall space are wisely occupied by monster menu boards, original windows, and a dramatic bar. The food and beer menus are just as dramatic. Forty draft selections, and many more in bottle. Hearty gastropub creations fill both the dinner and lunch bills of fare. Now, I didn't have the famous smoke burger, but I did have a huge serving of duck poutine (duck fat fries, duck gravy, shredded duck, and cheese curd) and s pretty respectable shrimp and grits. The poutine was rich, perfect for sharing with the table, and full of bad-for-you goodness. The shrimp and grits contained some sizeable shellfish, decent cheese grits, if a bit solid - I like my grits creamier, and this was like a heavy polenta. To finish, it was topped off with a tangy, slightly spicy, beer-based barbeque sauce. The beer list is posted on the aforementioned giant menu boards running up to the ceiling on the wall facing the bar. Draft selections change regularly, so it's never a bad idea to ask what seasonal brews are available - they might not be back for a while once they're gone. The noise level can get up there, so keep that in mind. Still, it's a good pour-house with a competent kitchen.
(4)Joe K.
Back again! And let me tell you a little about my experience. Because of the most recent Google Offers on Alewife, me and some friends secured $50 in food for $25, the only catch was the fact that it couldn't be used for lunch, or before 8pm. One per-customer"table" was allowed. Which made attempting to use this a little harder than it should've been, i even had a friend attempt to use it when he proposed, but they declined him because of the time he entered the establishment. We all sat separately at the bar, but that wasn't good enough for our waitress, as I practically had to plead my case to about using the offer separately. She was nice enough to allow the exception, so long as she got a kick back from it, though I am not a bad tipper she said," you would've paid me well anyways... ," let me feeling uncomfortable before the meal started. The tap list here is second best in the city, and has most beers on or around average prices with Max's Tap house. 60+ total taps and a full bar are still offered. I took a lot more time to choose through their menu with my extra "credit" I had, for starters I went with their Calamari. Which was prefect, and in the running for some of the best I have ever had. For my entree, Shrimp and Grits. I loved the grits, cheesy but not too cheesy with the right texture. The shrimp were huge and plentiful, but leaving the body of shrimp added a nice appearance, but wasn't too pleasant when biting into a left over hard pieces. I would've normally been fine, if there was light to tell what was what in the sauce. Overall good dish. And for dessert a lemon tart, though small it packed a ton of flavor and was light and palatable. All of this, two beers or so, and I hadn't filled my entire credit ($50), I was reminded by an exhausted waitress about how I promised to spend more than $50, some time when we first spoke. A shot of Black Label later and I was barley over $50 by $3 ; which is a great value most of the items I ordered were the most expensive meals on the menu and same with beer. Customer service was fast and good when serving, and not soo much behind the bar. The food was excellent, as always ; and the atmosphere is everything I would want in a gastropub, 3 stars.
(3)Joe S.
What a great place to have a great beer and some really tasty food. Everyone writes about Alewife's smoke burger, but I went another route and had their airliner chicken dish...wow, what an explosion of flavor that left me wanting to order a second one. The service was also great, I had a dark, curly haired, beer professor as a waitress, I mean she really knew what she was talking about. Thank you for a great time.
(5)Cornelius E.
I had the smoked burger and it was okay. The grog is definitely a different story. I really enjoyed hanging out one night at this fine alcoholic establishment. It's a beer nerds library of sorts with all the beer selection they have. I cant say the same about the morning after though...guess thats a good sign for the pub.
(4)Christopher T.
What's not to love about this place? Showed up here before the Orioles/Yankees game with my brother in town from NY. Thanks to Yelp it came up as the closest best brewpub between the hotel and Camden. Thanks Yelp, you really came through on this one. Their beer selection is probably the best I've seen in Baltimore in a couple of visits, it will for sure become a regular stop on future trips. As a visitor from DC I was happily shocked at how low the pint prices were here, like $2 a beer cheaper than the exact same thing in DC, and the kicker, everything is $1 off at happy hour. The staff was incredibly friendly as we sat at the bar, good recommendations of beers to try and just all around nice folks. We liked it so much we stopped back again after the game for a couple more, entirely different staff working, still incredibly friendly. It may be on the fancy side by Baltimore standards but the food looked amazing (though we stuck to beers both visits). I'd say skip the mixed drinks here and stick to the impressive beer selection, taps and bottles both. Make sure to also check out the bottom of the menu where they've typed in their "If you don't like your beer/Go F yourself" policy, so succinctly Baltimore, I loved it.
(4)Justin S.
Great beer selection, must try the Kobe Hotdog on the pretzel roll. Amazing!
(4)Ayon J. R.
Respectable collection of draught beer and decent food are the positives. Just don't go during dinner rush....some of he staff shows serious attitude when the place is busy.
(3)Jeff C.
Bad service and way overpriced. Had wings, quesadilla and duck fat fries; all were very good. However, they were double the price for what you can get in just as good a place here in Baltimore. We sat at the bar and service was bad. Couldn't get a bartender to bring a glass of water, she was too busy chatting with a friend at the end of the bar. And to top it off, she overcharged us on the number of beers we had! Unfortunately, I didn't notice until we had left. Liked the food, beer selection and atmosphere but this place is a rip off with bad service.
(2)Devin R.
The Smoke Burger was the best burger ever to have passed these lips. Pair that with a very large beer selection and you have the perfect man meal. Try it with the Stone Double Bastard or Lucky Bastard. When i make the move to Bmore this will certainly be one of my top hangouts
(5)Micah J.
Found this place randomly while searching YELP!! I loved the beer selection however, no Dogfish Head?? They have Dogfish Head 60 Min beer battered fish and chips but no actualy Dogfish Brews? (thats the reason for 4 stars and not five) For a place with such a great selection one has to wonder what is up with not having and DFH on tap or bottle. The building is really cool, its historic and there is some really great artwork on the walls. It is hipster for sure though. Hipster type indie music playing with a hipster crowd. I didnt mind though and everyone there was awsome and the staff was welcoming as can be! Very attentive making sure our beers were never empty. The food was great. I started with the buffalo chicken soup that was nice and spicey. I like spicey foods and my opinion of spicey is usually burning hot for others. So this was a moderate burn and held good flavor. I wish there was more chicken in it though. But its good and I would suggest it if you like hot/spicey food. The smoke burger got rave reviews on here and guess what, here is another one! This is one of the best I have ever had. The caramelized onions, the cheese, the bun the meat, everything about this badboy was just amazing. The duck fat fries with sea salt are a great side for this burger too. My wife had the kobe beef hotdog served on a pretzel hot dog roll with black bean chili and gouda cheese on it. It was amazing (obviously I took a bite or two) it did not even taste like a regular hot dog! Had a certian sweet flavor to it. Overall, make sure to check out Alewife. Great food, beers, staff, atmosphere and overall a great experience. We will be back next time we are down for a game! ****UPDATE!!!**** After writing this review I was personally contacted by the Executive Chef who assured me the reason for the lack of DogFish Head was due to a distribution problem and offered to buy me a DFH the next time I am in. Wow, what a class act. I have never had anyone treat a out of town customer in such a welcoming and honest way. I cannot wait to go back to Alewife now!!!!
(5)S W.
Dropped in for lunch, it's a quite place at lunchtime. It also has a limited lunch menu. But, not to be disappointed, the burger is top notch. One of the best I've ever had. The burger is served with Duck fat french fries, fantastic. Service was great. Prices great also.
(4)Ashley L.
I've been to Alewife several times as a late-night-dinner-but-mostly-drinks type of situation and really enjoyed it each time. Other people have mentioned that the food is a bit more expensive than you would expect, but I don't think it's unreasonable. The beer selection is amazing and they have an amazing fall-themed apple cider whiskey combo that I'm obsessed with. I like meeting friends from out of town for drinks there because it's like a polished version of Baltimore grit -- a fascinating combination.
(4)S W.
My friends and I dined there this evening and I was VERY disappointed with our server. She got my order ALL wrong was not the least bit apologetic and she was rude about it. I sent the order back and she never asked if she could get me anything else then when the bill came she only deducted 1/2 the meal off?! I ate the fries but really you screw up my order then you charge me for the fries I did eat? Asked for the manger but apparently he/she was to busy to come to table. #epicfail
(1)A P.
Area's ghetto as hell, but beer, burgers, duck fat fries and buffalo chicken soup are great! Close to Camden Yards.
(5)Michael H.
Great food and stellar service = happy customer. Call it 3.5 stars with a leaner toward 4. Wednesday night visit with wife and daughter, during happy hour, but didn't sit at the bar. Happy hour looked like it had some decent deals to it. This is definitely a beer driven establishment, so take this comment with a grain of salt, or barley: the wine list is amazingly terse. Considering the level of cuisine available, I think it would be wise to expand the list. 2 pinot noirs, 1 zin, 1 cab, 1 Aussie syrah, and 1 I can't recall right now; plus the whites I didn't even look at. All available by the glass and fairly priced. But again, extremely limited. We were promptly seated and the place was 1/3 full at the time (6). By 6:30, the joint was packed. There were two shows nearby (Hippodrome is right across the street, and First Mariner was right down the block) so maybe that's why. Server was prompt and nicely talkative. I wouldn't exactly call it kid friendly, as there is no children's food section on the menu, but the server worked with us to get us through. Our daughter really wanted a burger, and the only one they have is the $15 Smoke burger. While it is well worth the price of admission (both my wife and I got it and loved it) it's way too much for a 3.5 year old. So, we started with the truffle mac-n-cheese, which, to be called "truffle" needs more than 3 tiny limp truffle slices on it. Still tasty, but a little steep at $11. She consumed a lot of that, plus a few pieces of my wife's massive burger. My medium-rare was closer to rare, but still tasty. Could have used another minute on the grill. Wife's medium is what I consider medium rare. YMMV. Duck fat fries were tasty but nothing to droll over. Server kindly hooked up our daughter with a small side of fries, too. Also on the kid-friendly bit, another two couples came in with extremely loud kids and no one seemed to mind; we were seated in the back room which was quieter (as were they; good move!) than the main dining room. There's also an upstairs. Ultimately I'm pleased and will return. I miss Maggie Moore's and the Killer Burger, but Alewife is an able replacement.
(4)James F.
Great on all accounts. Atmosphere was interesting. Food and drink selection was amazing. Best Fish Tacos in Baltimore(wish they were on their lunch menu!) Five Stars for sure.
(5)Chris H.
I have been here numerous times and besides the wait-staff being rather unfriendly, had never had negative experiences. However my last few visits were subpar. The burger, usually amazing, came well done despite the medium-rare that i ordered. The blackbean burger, usually crispy, came out a sloppy mess on a VERY stale bun on my last visit. That being said, great beer selection and laid back atmosphere. Apps are all delicious. Maybe stick to happy hour
(3)Katie D.
Came here for opening night. Didn't get to try any food but I was definitely impressed by the beer selection. I had two beers and the check was around $13.00 -- it does seem a little pricy, but these were good high quality beers! I hope to come back and dine in the future and I am glad to see that new businesses are popping up over on the westside.
(4)Kat C.
At first, I was concerned. My boyfriend had walked right by the door with the giant Alewife sign above it. And then? I was dismayed - stairs! I tragically had donned flip flops in the boorish heat of summer, how could I traverse such things? But then, as we crested the summit, a puzzling sign. Actually the sign it self wasn't a puzzle, unless you're dyslexic, then I suppose every sign could be an adventure. "Please seat yourself" for lunch? Unheard of! I mean, it's as though they want to have a welcoming, easygoing atmosphere for folks wandering in off the street for lunch! The nerve! We sat at the bar and found ourselves... sitting at a bar. While I couldn't tell you what type of wood it was made of, or the origin of the 3rd lumberjack to slice at it, I can tell you it was a very comfortable bar. Our waitress, bartend-ress, gave us a smile that let us know she was genuinely interested in these strange, bedraggled people who had bumped into the Alewife's state of existence. She greeted us, asked if we knew what we wanted to drink. A deep surprise exploded from my boyfriend's mouth: "It's early in the day, I'D LIKE A LIGHTER BEER PLEASE" as I reeled from the implications that he was not interested in a pint of beer so black that light had only a piece of floss and a thumbtack in order to escape it - our waitress very kindly gave him a few samples of some of their local brews. She then turned to me and asked me if I would also like a lighter beer. Time, my brain, and I think something deep under the sewers stopped. Yes? What would you like? Something... lighter than what he has? Okay, how about... My mind was swimming in beautiful combinations of hops, wheat, barley, water, and eventually agave. While my mind was swimming, my mouth was running on finicky autopilot. With the swift and gentle actions of a woman who knows where everything in her kitchen/bar was, she gave me sample after sample. My tastebuds had to cooperating nature of a rhinocerous with a sinus infection. Fortunately, she eased me into a novel concept. One unheard of for centuries, if at all. A menu. With descriptions of the beers. Hence, I ended up with a lovely brew made with Agave. The lunch menu was reasonable, not overwhelming or overflowing with grease and misery. My boyfriend chose his pub staple - fish and chips. BUT LO - these chips were not ordinary fries! They were - YUCCA! Delicious, delicious yucca fries. Did we know what the hell a yucca plant was? I did, from nefarious studies deep in the recesses of the bio hall in college. The boyfriend? Knew it from Fallout New Vegas. I ordered the tomato soup. This soup arrived unassuming on my lovely bowl sitting on my lovely plate accompanied with a lovely cheese sandwich. When I surreptitiously slurped the first slurp of soup I was not prepared for the SWEET SOUR SALTY PEPPERY UMAMI BACON TASTING HOLY MOLEY WHY IS THIS JUST SOUP?! The waitress, my god she just stood there - knowing. Knowing that we were experiencing pub food that reached deep into us and pulled out our delightfully hairy and wholesome hobbit selves. Have you ever reached your hobbit self? Have you ever been so content with the atmosphere, the food, the beer, the company what you just want to pull out a long pipe, light up some moss, and call it "the loveliest little place in the Shire"? HAVE YOU?! Mulling over pleasant current affairs with your date and the staff, feeling the warm wood beneath your fingers as you push away from the bar, and realizing that your cool beer is still sitting patiently for you to finish it - these are the things that make one have a hobbit meal. Come to the Alewife, and find your inner Hobbit.
(5)Erin A.
Seriously, in the 3 months I have been in Maryland, this is the best place I have found!! Too bad it is a whopping two hour drive from where I live and this gal likes to drank, so I will rarely get to go! We have been there twice now, once before a game and once on our way to the airport (don't judge). They have an amazing beer selection, lots of IPA! Both times we have been, the bartenders and other staff are knowledgeable about the beer which is hard to find! They will let you taste too, which I like with craft beer. the food, what we have had anyway, is awesome. I have had the chicken salad (really unique and good) and the veggie burger...it is prob the best veggie burger I have had (but I am a meat eater so I don't order them terribly often) My man friend got the smoke house burger both times we went, and seriously had a man-gasm both times! The staff is so nice, and the people we have met sitting at the bar are equally cool! you would be silly not to go to this place, and I am jealous of those who live closer!!!
(5)J R.
Agree! The best burger and it is worth the wait! Forget about the fries, nothing to brag about, that is why I gave a four star. The burger needs a match. Cozy good crowd, good service, very busy call for reservation it will save you time.
(4)Abigail C.
I decided to take my boyfriend here for his birthday because he is a big fan of craft brews! I was a little concerned when we first sat down because we were right on top of the table next to us, but this wasn't much of an issue. My boyfriend extremely excited that they had Rogue Dead Guy Ale on draft! For an appetizer we got the duck fat fries with a spicy chipotle dipping sauce, and the truffled mac and cheese! Both were amazing, the mac and cheese especially. For dinner my boyfriend ordered the smoked burger and he absolutely love it! The only reason I gave Alewife four stars rather than five was because I ordered the Grilled Skirt Steak with sweet mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus, in like a smoky glaze and I was not impressed. The sweet mashed poatoes and grilled asparagus were alright, but the Kobe Streak was fatty and just did not taste right with the sauce. Our service was good! The building that Alewife is in was a renovated Bank and it is absolutely incredible inside!
(4)H C.
In Baltimore on short notice, looked for a place to eat by asking Uncle Yelp (that guy knows all the good places) and settled on Alewife. Here's the nutshell version of what I experienced. It's both very good and bad, bordering on very bad, all at the same table. The smoke burger was very, very good. None of the inconsistent bacon issues others spoke of, cooked just right (med rare) and delicious. The skirt steak though was mediocre, with a weak sauce, and the mashed sweet potatoes were passed around for the "oh, wow" factor only. Not in a good way, sadly. Everything else from the remainder of the food choices our party made to the service, atmosphere etc. was between "good enough, certainly nothing to complain about" and very good, but not necessarily excellent. Beer list is as everyone says, very large, very good quality. Can't go wrong there if that's what you're after. Would I return? Absolutely, especially if I was in that part of town. Would I rave over it, insist others go, and refuse to try other places? No, the inconsistencies were too much. I also would not walk very far away from the front door after dark, but that's a separate issue. Let's just say that if you aren't from the City you might feel more comfortable with a cab than walking to a car at night.
(3)Chaka H.
So... I'm not the biggest fan of beer, but I may have converted after going here! That have an extensive collection of brews and I chose the Alabash white, and I finished my entire glass. Yeee! The nice thing about their selection is that they give you taste tests in small- shot like glasses. But, beware, read the menu closely! If you order a glass of brew and you don't like it... you cannot send it back, that's why you taste before you order! I love this. We ordered the calamari for our appetizer, and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't covered in oil and fried stuff- I actually tasted the squid. YUM. Between the two of us, we ordered the smoke burger- APPLE WOOD BACON changed my LIFE, beef, cipollini onions, amazingness- I couldn't finish it because it was larger than me, but it was delicious and the kobe beef hot dog- which was tasty, but it was nothing to write home about. The vibe is super chill, and great for watching local sports (a Ravens game was on when we went!). I can definitely see myself (and the boyfriend) becoming regulars here!
(4)Brian And Fran M.
Overall - a gorgeous space and excellent beer selection, but the rest needs some refinement. This is a great beer-lover's bar with a gourmet light-fare menu. Calling is a restaurant, though, seems a stretch. Given the ambitious menu, my table unanimously remarked "good potential" but "lacking execution". It's advised to make a reservation - the hostess was less than willing to give up even a long empty table for fear of being unable to seat reservations. When we finally got a table, after watching others seat themselves, the waitresses and bartenders seemed experienced, but food was slow to arrive. When it did arrive it looked great, but my much-anticipated Smoke Burger came out well done instead of medium. (We did receive a small discount on the bill to compensate for the slow service.) After the meal, we asked for the dessert menu and were told they were out of everything and they did not serve coffee or tea. So my advise to Alewife would be - "Be a bar or be a restaurant". If your goal is to satisfy the beer-lover, add more bar seating! I would give you 4 - 4.5 stars for a great bar! If you want to be a restaurant, you may need to retrain the kitchen staff to be more consistent or simplify the dishes. Given time and some care this could be one of the best restaurants in Baltimore! Also note: When traveling here - it's best to come from the East or South - the neighborhoods North and West are a little sketchy.
(3)Julius B.
Great spot across from Hippodrome theater. Smoke burger is the bomb! Maybe the best cheeseburger in town. Calamari appetizer terrible. Overpriced and soup like texture. Fries were good but great. Great wait staff. Crazy selection of drafts. The Sierra Nevada holiday pale ale was tops. I will repeat.
(4)Leslie B.
Good food, although I do sometimes think it's a bit more expensive than it should be. Best beer selection in that area of downtown (i.e. waaaaay better than Pickles, Frank & Nic's, etc.)
(4)John R.
Great experience for lunch. Bartender was attentive and knowledgeable about the great beer selection. Went back later that night and had some more beers. The place was little crazy after an O's/Red Sox game. Still, it rocked. The bartenders stayed up and the owner was a gracious host (on his birthday). Highly recommended.
(5)Laura K.
Excellent beer selection, and knowledgable staff which had me feeling like we were off to a great start, but things really just weren't that great overall. I will say my 3-stars is colored by the fact that I was super excited to go here and was really disappointed overall. We got the duck fat fries and they were delicious and crunchy. I had the tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons and it was delivered luke warm, it was pretty good other than that, but I wasn't blown away and am still not sure if the croutons were always soggy or if it had just been sitting before I got it. Someone else in our party got soup, it was also good, but luke warm. I lived in the south for a few years and fell in love with Shrimp and Grits as a dish, but now that I live in Delaware I never see it on menus, so when I found a restaurant near our hotel with it listed on the menu I was really excited. There are two types of shrimp and grits, one thats heavily tomato based and one that's not. I prefer it not be tomatoey and so I asked the server which it was, she said it was barbecue which (usually) has a tomato base but past that it wasn't tomato heavy. So when my meal showed up drowning in a chunky tomato sauce and it was all on top of what was much closer to a polenta than anything I've ever heard represented as grits, I was automatically very disappointed in my meal. It was ok. The shrimp was good, the polenta was good, as was the spinach, it just really wasn't what I was expecting and it was also not amazing enough to overcome that. My husband got the skirt steak and he said it was solid and tasty, but he sort of felt it also didn't blow him away and we both felt thusly, that it was a tad overpriced. The couple we were with both really enjoyed their meals, which were also more "bar food" based, and we all enjoyed the service beer selection and atmosphere. If it weren't for the pricing combined with the massive disappointment I felt with first cold soup and then inaccurate menu description, I probably would've rated it higher.
(3)Jen K.
Great bar! I came here twice while in town for a conference. The first night we were regular patrons. We set up at a table and ate and drank all night long as we launched a massive new product. Food was ok. I know everyone raves about the duck fat fries, but to me they were just "eh". But the rest of the crew loved them, so I guess it was just me! Our waitress was amazing! Funny, attentive and helpful. And when a co-worker came late after the kitchen closed she even offered to go get him food. Amazeballs! We came back the second night, this time as a company renting out the facility for a conference party. We took over the entire place and the staff was amazing. For having close to 200 people there, I was amazed at how attentive the bar staff was. Everyone had a blast and the manager was very easy to work with. If we ever end up in Baltimore again for a conference and decide to host a party this would easily be my first choice!
(4)Casey T.
We stopped in after reading other yelp reviews. Tried a selection of different beers and ordered some calamari which was excellent. We also ordered two burgers and true to their word (it is stated on the menu that the burgers take a long time to make) we waited probably about 40 minutes for them. The ambiance and decor of the restaurant is very neat. We sat at the bar which was comfortable. The bartenders were nice enough but nothing particularly special.
(4)Good For The Palate R.
Alewife is worth a drive. The specialize in beer and good food. They have a decent selection of wine, and lots of cocktails. One of the best beer selections in the Baltimore/ DC area. 40 Draft Beers, plus a very long bottle list. The staff knows their beer and is opinionated, which I appreciated. They will let you try when they can't get a handle on your preferences. As of July 2011 they are implementing a Wednesday Flight Night. They are offering 10+ different options for you to try (4) 5oz portions of beer. Trivia on Mondays. The TVs make it a great place to hang out before, after, or even during a game at Oriole's or Raven's Stadiums a few blocks away. The place can be pricy but groupons are available frequently. The food is really tasty. Their Smoke Burger is now famous. But you have to try the Vegetarian Black Bean Burger. It won me over and I'm a meat eater. Interesting condiments are well matched. Not a big fan of the Cuban sandwich or the tomato soup. Love the mussels. Go for the beer, stay for the beer.
(4)Hilary C.
What a gem!! Came here after the Indycar Race and I can't believe we didn't find it sooner. Extensive and impressive beer selection for even the most german of drinkers. The house specialty burger was crazy tasty, and just the right size. I can't wait to return.
(4)Devon B.
Try the smokeburger, it's amazing. The real treat here is the beer though, tons of it, this place almost singlehandedly raises Bmore to a new level of beer availability and makes it a craft brew town.
(5)Scott G.
I've been waiting for a beer bar on the West Side for some time. Brewer's Art is fine, but I don't really like drinking their homegrown beers. I want a hoppy Stone IPA. Thankfully, Alewife has just that and tons more. Their beer selection is off the hook with tons of bottles and draughts. I haven't tried the food, but I can say the beer selection, the aesthetics of the venue, and the friendly waitstaff are enough to give it five stars. The location is not ideal. It's rather desolate on weekend nights. In fact, I went to retrieve money from the Bank of America ATM around the corner on a Saturday night. I walked up to the ATM and immediately a man stopped right behind me and asked for something. I bolted before I could ask him to repeat himself. Considering that it's not centrally located in the younger neighborhoods is all the more reason to go there. Support this place so it doesn't go the way of other failed business ventures in West Baltimore.
(5)Danielle R.
The food was wonderful and there was an amazing selection of well crafted beers to choose from. Be sure to make a reservation or get there early for Happy Hour.
(4)Whitney T.
I didn't eat here, just had drinks...the beer selection is really amazing! If you're a beer person, this is your place. However, they don't carry Miller Lite, Bud Light, or any of those types of beer, so if you're in the mood for something low-key, this is not your place.
(3)Adam C.
Hello Yelpers, Wow what can you say? An amazing beer selection, one hell of a Kobe Beef Hotdog, you must try it to understand its goodness, and from what i can tell the Burger looks amazing and smells even better, I have not personally tried this burger , but plan to very soon, Every time I turn my head, I see it when it hits the table, I turn around 5 mins later and its already been eaten, this is a huge burger and my clock may be run by amazing beer, but everyone eats this thing in its entirety. No lie... Go see for yourself. I tend to go with new beers every time I go, because hey, they have so many to choose from. Check it out, bring some friends, enjoy the conversations, and the ambiance of an old Bank, they still have a vault in there on the way to the bathroom, pretty sweet. Brian Palombo, this is the manager. If you have a chance to talk to him when he is there, please do. He is a wealth of information when it comes to Baltimore and will know someone you know from where ever you are from, thats how it worked for us. We live next door , so we try to go as often as possible. Ask Brian about the "Night of 100 Elvises" He describes this mythical night quite well and may even reccomend you try the drink of Christmas! Alewife, I give it 2 thumbs up and 5 stars. I am sorry 1 out of 1000 don't feel the same! Enjoy!
(5)Meghann R.
We stopped in Sunday afternoon after we walked over to Lexington Market, only to discover the LM is closed on Sundays. It was mid-afternoon when we were there, so pretty quiet, but I imagine it can be pretty lively at night. There is also a theater across the street, so if you're going to see a show this would be a good casual option. The full beer menu is not available for lunch, but there are still plenty of options. We split a sandwich and a shrimp appetizer. The appetizer was fabulous, it was like dim sum meets bar food!
(4)Alex P.
Terrible. They broke my ID. Bad beer for 5 bucks
(1)Kojo B.
Ok, first things first the service was really really bad the bar and the restaurant by and large was empty but our waitress rarely checked on us. Slow and un-attentive to say the least. Anyway, let's move on to the food shall we. So prior to going I checked the yelp reviews and everyone raved on and on about this smokehouse burger as being the best burger in Baltimore. Obviously my expectations and bar had been set very high, so needless to say I ordered the smokehouse and boy was I disappointed. The bacon was burnt and was hard as rocks, I ordered my burger medium well, it was terrible it sought of reminded me of burgers at hard rock cafe not earth shattering but basic. I am pretty positive that I can hook up a better seasoned burger. Anyhow when someone says that Alewife's burgers are the best in bmore it's quite possible that some adult beverages have clouded their judgement. I will stick to Abbey's and will try out Hamilton Tavern at a latter time. Also i had fries along with my burger, and if that is what was masquerading as duck fat fries then it is the worst i have ever had.
(2)Stacey G.
Sorry to those who thought much higher of this place than me but I've had a lot better for better prices. The best parts about this place is their draught beers and the setting. Great selection and the server was able to describe them thoroughly. The service was also pretty good. The disappointment? Kind of important component: the food. The duck fat fries were over seasoned. The chipotle aioli with all the seasoning on the fries was just too much. One of us had the burger and I simply don't get what everyone is raving about. It was good, yes, but the best burger you've ever had? I'm afraid those folks aren't getting out enough. I don't like being able to taste a charcoal flavor more than the meat. The meats get lost in all the onion, cheese, chipotle. It's just too much going on. We subbed asparagus for the fries and the asparagus were like tree trunk size and were over grilled. (I'll go to Pappa's if I want mushy asparagus.) Also, not sure why we were charged for subbing. The asparagus side is cheaper than the fries. But whatever. We also had the BBQ shrimp and grits. The flavor of the grits was pretty good. The shrimp were cooked nicely. Not really a strong BBQ flavor but I was OK with that. The real problem was the grits were lumpy. Not just small lumps either. Imagine lumps the size of toast points. At $20, you'd think grits could be smooth. Shows a lack of care/consistency. One last note - we were seated upstairs in that small area overlooking the bar. It was so loud at points we gave up talking to each other. Granted it was a Friday night after 7 so noise levels will be higher but the noise cast a shadow over the entire evening. Incidentally, not sure if they have desserts. We were never offered any. We'll go again. Maybe this time they'll have the radish wraps, which I wanted to try. Beer selection is worth another visit. And we have another groupon so not going to let it go to waste but I hope our second visit is redeeming.
(2)Darcy P.
from what I hear--one of top 3 burgers in the city. but I don't agree. they mix the smoked gouda in with ground meat...and I think the flavor gets lost. but friends LOVE LOVE LOVE it. "3 types of meat and 11 oz!" and, to be fair, I'm not a big burger eater. So when I do have a bite, I want it to be magnificent. I've tried this one twice and twice decided not worth eating more. also, the burger wasn't cooked as ordered, but hey. the beer selection is fantastic. the vibe is great. the entire menu is also good and elevated from normal bar food--with good prices, too! the service is nice but really slow, though prob more a management issue than a server issue, i.e., put more bartenders or servers on a shift. two bartenders with a big packed bar just doesn't cut it. we have season tickets to the hippodrome and go here before the shows. it's packed but worth it. it's a welcome addition to the neighborhood and worth checking out.
(4)Cesar G.
I was in Baltimore for a conference recently and decided to check out Alewife with three colleagues based on Yelp and a Baltimore Magazine review. I wasn't disappointed. It has a great ambiance, a delicious black bean burger, and a great beer and cocktail menu. I would definitely be open to returning next time I'm in town.
(4)Linda L.
I used to really like Alewife the first couple times I went, but I've been totally disappointed lately. I keep coming back because it's only a block away from my boyfriend's apartment and it serves food late enough at night that if I'm unwise enough to procrastinate on dinner, there's always somewhere to go besides Panera or Subway. They have a gigantic beer menu so there's always something new to try. The restaurant is situated in an old building that used to be a bank at some point, so there's some cool architecture going on as well. As far as a bar food goes, it's hit and miss, and pricey for what you get. The famous smoke burger is not any more special than burgers you can get at any other restaurant or gastropub, yet is several dollars more expensive. My favorite dish here used to be the mushroom risotto cakes, but they seemed to have removed it from the menu. Just as well, considering the last time I got it, the cakes weren't warm all the way through and the crust was far from crispy. The fennel frites also used to be a favorite of mine, but when I got them off the late night menu this past weekend, I think the cook accidentally threw in some calamari into the fryer. The batter was also sub-par. What was supposed to be a light and crispy tempura batter was instead a heavy, overcooked fried dough coating the slices of fennel (and calamari...). I could go on about my various disappointing experiences here but I'll spare you the details. There really aren't very many restaurants in this area besides chains, so Alewife isn't a terrible option, especially if you don't want to walk down to the mediocre, touristy restaurants at the Inner Harbor.
(2)D V.
I love coming here! This is my 7th trip here and I always get the burger with duck fat fries. It is the BEST burger I have ever had. Also I want to say thank you to Kelsey would fished my retainer out of the trash.
(5)Greg M.
After reading all the reviews about the smoke burger i may have set my expectations too high. It was a red robin quality hamburger at best... On the brighter side, they have a draft list that will please any beer snob and the duck fat fries are worth the trip alone.
(3)Meatdowntown C.
I went again to try the Cubano sandwich but it is gone. I did try the burger at it was very good as well as the Tilapia tacos. the service at the bar is kind of funky. the bartenders think they are too cool for the curstomers. Still good food and a great variety of beer.
(3)Marlee S.
For a place that wasn't super full, it sure took a LONG time to get our drinks and food. The pluses are their beer selection. The food is on the pricier side for a bar.
(2)David M.
This place has a constantly rotating selection of fantastic craft beers and one of the best burgers you'll ever find. Everything on the menu is pretty good but that Smoke Burger is really something special. Try it.
(5)Roz S.
Excellent! Beer and food were terrific! Duck fries, mac n' cheese, and peach quesadillas were all delicious. Friendly service.
(5)Julian G.
Fantastic service, delicious food, cool atmosphere... great time!!!
(5)Carl A.
I really want to like Alewife. Anyplace devoted to various "good" beers that ISN'T Max's makes me incredibly happy. We should have 10 restaurants and bars that have this kind of selection so that I never have to deal with the crowds that Max's brings. I went to Alewife last night with my boyfriend, and two other couples. It was crowded; we got there right before Les Miserables started across the street at the Hippodrome, and so we were waiting for a table. I draped my coat across a chair, and while I was ordering a beer at the bar, my compatriots were scolded for it. I wouldn't be irked by this ordinarily, if we hadn't been given that exact table 10 minutes later. The beer selection here is great. They have a LOT of different varieties. We seemed to stick to the draft beers...I ordered a Stone IPA, and two Allagash Blacks. The other dudes that were there are very adventurous, and had fun picking through the beer list and debating the merits and downfalls of each. The food was tasty, too. I wasn't too hungry, so I just ordered Cream of Crab soup, which was pretty good. Also ordered were Duck Fat Fries, which were also fairly good (though I do have a problem faking the seemingly requisite orgasm noise accompanying their arrival on the table), as well as Shrimp Croquettes (Only three?? Come on!) and Mushroom Risotto Cakes, which were kind of skimpy. My boyfriend ordered the Black Bean Burger, which was tasty (I had a sample...dating perks), but was...rather squishy. It virtually disintegrated when squeezed. The service here was pretty slow, especially disproportionate when considering how the crowd thinned out a little bit as the play began across the street. Our server was knowledgable, and very passionate about the beer served, but was wearing a Nike Performance shirt. Like, I wore the same shirt the day before on a run. It bothered me enough to comment about it...it just seemed a little unimpressive. I'd go back...but if similar pub popped up in Baltimore, I'd go there instead.
(3)Sarah S.
Loved the food, beer, and ambiance of Alewife. The only downside was the mostly inattentive staff. Definitely worth giving a second chance.
(4)Rick S.
First time. Got in around 830pm; wasn't crowded at all and grabbed a seat wherever. Food was upscale and had the price to match; same with the beer ($21 for steak and $7 for a rare beer) but you get what you pay for. All around good place to visit.
(4)Lois B.
The first time we had the smoked burger which was fine. This time we ordered the Maryland crab cakes. The cake was very small and the price was quite high for what it was. Two small crab cakes, one fried green tomato and a very small salad. The best part of the dinner was the wine.
(3)Mark F.
Great beer selection! I ordered the Kobe hotdog to eat. The sausage and mustards were great but the roll did not seem fresh at all.
(3)Ben H.
Walked into Misfits 20 Eyes, then talked to Chef Chad Wells for 2 mins. Great guy. Then the Cure Just like heaven hit. I've got a new home in Baltimore. Shit, I just realized I haven't said a word about the food. Ok, two words. Smoke Burger. And anything this man does with snakehead fish is magic!
(4)Travis B.
Disappointed. This is my 2nd time coming here. I had the Cuban sandwich the first and it was amazing. This time around I tried the smoke burger per reviews. I was not impressed. My burger was undercooked completely raw in the middle. The bun was overly grease. The duck fries were grease and undercooked. Don't get me wrong these food items are grease but this was not appetizing. I'm sticking with a three because they have a great beer selection, they do have some great dishes and my food was flavorful, just poorly cooked.
(3)Jon L.
I can't get enough of the smoke burger. The rest of the menu is so appetizing but I can't go there and order anything else. I managed to share an appetizer last time and got the wings. They were amazing. Yesterday, I shared the fish tacos as an appetizer before the burger. I left there so full but wanting more...Can't wait to go back..
(5)Matthew V.
The Alewife is all about the beer. They offer a enormous list of beers you've never heard of and it changes weekly. You can request samples of beers before buying. The food is upscale pub fare (burgers, fries) and is quite tasty - just not the best I've ever had. Portions are good, the decor is nice, and the wait staff is helpful (ask them for a beer recommendations). You're typical patrons are yuppies. Not a 5 star rating because its slightly overpriced and the conditions of the Groupon they offered were pretty restrictive; but I'll definitely be back.
(4)Steve S.
We visited Alewife for the first time on Friday evening before a concert at the Hippodrome. Our party of six arrived at bit late but our reservations were held and our table was ready. The hostess was very friendly and greeted us warmly. We waited about 5 minutes for a server and our drinks were brought quickly. Our food was a very different story. Our party elected to order burgers to save time but our food took almost any hour to arrive. To be fair, our server warned us to order quickly and the owner sent us a round of drinks but we were about 10 minutes late to the show. The "smoke burger" was fantastic and the beer selection vast. I will go back, but not before a show.
(4)Brian O.
Great food and friendly service. The Smoke Burger exceeded all expectations, and the duck fat fries were something special. Grilled cheese and tomato soup were also a good choice. Our six-year old enjoyed the kid's grilled cheese. The beer selection was excellent, although being from California, it had a lot that were familiar from home, I had to ask what was local to this area.
(5)Mikey Dreidel B.
By far te best burger I've ever eaten & devil eggs as an app was amazing!!
(4)Jayson H.
Off night maybe? I read all of these reviews and wonder if I even ate at the same place... Oh yeah, I did. Just finished eating there and won't be back. While they have an awesome selection of beers the staff, at least our waitress, wasn't very knowledgeable about the breweries. She recommended a pilsner that was actually an ale. I had the fish tacos and the tortillas were browned to such a crisp they broke into pieces when trying to eat them like a taco. The "Alewife Salad" was almost completely dry and about 98% greens with limited good stuff - blue cheese, apple, asparagus, etc. When I asked for more salad dressing they gave me some but also charged me for it. Pretty sad to need to charge extra for salad dressing for an $8 salad. Waitress was disinterested in her job and spent most of her time reading at the other side of the restaurant. Then after I confronted her on the extra charge for the salad dressing she said, "Have a nice night" with a smirk and a bit of stink on it. Obviously the manager knew that I had questioned her on the salad dressing (saw the two of them discussing it when she settled the bill). Pros - Amazing beer selection Cons - expensive for serving size, more style over substance with food, slow service (even on a night when they were not busy), staff doesn't know enough about beer, poor attitude I won't go back. I suggest you save your money and visit any of the local places that have great service and great food. Alewife, you've been 86'd.
(2)Mike D.
Round two...took Mom to Alewife for her birthday and it was the bomb! Thai peanut chicken wings for appetizer was soooooo good,crispy,big,tasty...get them! We both ordered the Smoke burger and again it was terrific. I only ate some fries and half my burger cuz I wanted to try dessert and last time I ate the whole thing and was full as shit. We both got the caramel and apple cheese cake ....yea yeahhhhhh....fuckin tasty!!! Go there get the same things I got and eat dat shit!!!!
(5)Lindsey M.
The burger and fries are absolutely amazing. However, it's pretty overpriced. The atmosphere is great, but its pretty loud. The servers are pretty distant and not very engaging, but overall that's okay. We asked for a recommendation for beer and described the types we like and had to end up paying for this awful beer at the recommendation of the waiter. It was nothing like what we liked. If your waiter seems unsure, then just ask a bartender or google something ahead of time for what you'd like to try. The ciders there are very good, and I was pleasantly surprised by the berry cider. Be sure to make a reservation as its always fairly full.
(4)Dave M.
Great atmosphere! Great brew selection! Little bit hipster, not in a bad way tho. Smoke burger is the boss :) Honestly NO complaints! I will be back!
(5)Miriam B.
This was my 2nd trip here. They have a huge beer list. And some nice cocktails. I tried the pear cocktail and the Baltimore cocktail. My husband tried the IPA beer flight. I tried a sip of it and even though I'm not a beer lover it was very tasty. We had the cheese and meat board, Thai wings and the crab cakes for appetizers. They smoke their own salmon and chorizo and serve it with aged cheddar, gherkins, blue cheese and house glazed cashews on their meat and cheese board. It paired perfectly with the beer. The Thai wings had this sweet/ spicy glaze on them that was kind of addictive. The crab cakes were tasty little morsels of crab meat. We also enjoyed the mussels in a spicy lobster broth. The Cuban sandwich was also a stand out. Thin layers of ham, pork, cheese, pickles and mustard grilled perfectly on Cuban bread. For a side dish the grilled asparagus was terrific. Great option for a vegetarian. We had a sponge cake with keylime ice cream for dessert. It was the perfect ending to our meal. Very nice service too.
(5)Jesse K.
With little reluctance I was brought back to this establishment for a work get-together and my experience this time really changed my mind for the better about Alewife. Although the Stone IPA was out, I was recommended the Green Flash IPA by our server and it was kick butt. Based on other reviews I ordered the smoke burger and it was served perfecto medium rare and also kicked butt. Delicious. Rounded out the night with a Green Flash "Palette Wrecker" imperial IPA, which was one of the best beers I have ever tasted and a personal recommend by the owner, with whom I chatted while we were washing our hands in the restroom, of all places. The service was great; she broke our tab into multiple separate checks without issue and our food came out much more quickly than I thought it would. We had a very nice time. I would gladly come back again.
(4)Lindsay R.
If you go for nothing else, the smoke burger is worth the trip! There is also a very wide selection of beer that is reasonably priced. The service is not as attentive as it could be, but still a place worth visiting. Also, if you come in a group over 3 then prepare to pay as a group
(4)Jamie S.
I'm so glad someone is making use of this location because the building is so beautiful. If you remember Lucy's Irish Restaurant from back in the day this is what's there now. Right across from the Hippodrome so go in and grab a pint before the show. Alewife has kept this location classy and is bringing herds folks in because this place was packed by 5:30 when I was there. For the beer snob in you this place will probably have something to your liking. When I was there I had the local Stillwater Autumnal (x3) and it was a satisfying drop. I didn't sample much of the food but friends who ordered were pleased with the attention to detail in their dishes and the burgers looked to be totally bangin'. Beers are strong! Not many wimpy beers here. I'd say the average abv is about 7-8% with drinks like the Victory Storm hovering around 1000% abv. Beers are a bit on the pricey side so bring your beer money. No Dollar Draughts here but the value is there. It's easy to socialize in a bar like this and I had an all around good feeling with this place (did I mention the beers were strong?). You can tell these folks have a good vision and are seeing it through. I have to go now. Need to find more change in the couch cushions. I gotta go back. I wonder if Alewife cashes tax return checks. I'll ask.
(4)Victoria L.
Last Friday, I was pinged by a couple other Yelpers that they were going to try Alewife for Happy Hour, and since the place is a whopping 3 blocks from my downtown office, I was ecstatic to drink after work and stumble home. So, working and living downtown, you learn that every bar has its own feel and you can't judge the bar by the neighborhood or the neighborhood by the bar. Alewife borders Harbor East and Downtown and the interior is really what you'd expect - classy and polished but open and a very lively place. The bar was *already* hopping, even though I was the first of the group to get there at 5:30 - I got the last seat at the bar. I asked the waitress if they could accomodate a party of 10-20 people, and she said that they were already expecting a couple of larger groups who called ahead. Popular place! It wasn't a big deal at all since none of us mind crowding the bar. I got about 57 ciders, the tomato soup, and the world's classiest hot dog, while my SO got the cubano and about 83 hop-heavy drafts. We were only there until about 7:30 but managed to drink and eat up a $100 bill by the end, and it was worth every penny. Also, kudos to the female bar tender who remembered what I was drinking even though she didn't pour my first one. She did pour my next 56 though. :D
(4)john f.
been to alewife a few times now. the smoke burger lives up to the hype. they have a million beers on tap, and a staff that is knowledgeable and helpfull. However, be warned, my buddy ordered the skirt steak and it was pathetically small. Skirt steak is generally a cheap cut and he figured $21 would get him a generous portion. but you'd have thought it was filet mignon, the portion was so tiny for the price. hence the 4 stars, everything else about the place is 5 star though.
(4)Felix G.
Located in the ghetto. But great burger. If you dont get scared easily def stop by.
(4)shawn g.
Great beer selection and servers that were willing to accommodate us after our fennel fries arrived and we realized that it was not fries dusted with fennel, but strips of fennel, deep fried. The smoke burger did take a while as promised, but I thought the taste was well worth it. The sauteed onions, sauce and seasoning played very well together. The duck fat fries were also good and not nearly as overwhelming as other places I've ordered them. The Lady enjoyed her grilled shrimp and gruyere grits, but couldn't finish. If you go here in the evening and get the table by the big window, be prepared for the attention you'll get from passers by.
(4)Kay G.
Food was awesome, the service quick (especially for marathon weekend!). I was a little bummed that they were out of at least 1/4 of the draft beers I was interested in, but the buffalo chicken soup certainly made up for it.
(4)Owen R.
Train wreck for service at Alewife Since I received a call confirming my reservation, I should have realized that the dinner might come off the tracks when the hostess had no evidence of a reservation. Despite the fact it was Saturday at 6pm the fact we were seated promptly, was a good recovery.... But things deteriorated. Good service is not just superior table tending, but coordination between the kitchen and the floor with intervention by management when the two are not in alignment. Some one should tell Alewife. This restaurant is across the street from Baltimore's major performing arts center, The Hippodrome Theater and I would suggest, could be responsible for a large portion of their business given the lack of suitable dining within walking distance. We notified the server of our need to have our "feet on the street" 20 minutes prior to curtain which we were told would not be a problem as we mentioned this one hour and forty minutes in advance of that deadline. Our four top ordered two salads, a black bean cake and a mussels / soup combo for the fourth at 6:20. We heeded the server's gospel to allow for some "more time" for any meat dishes...which evidently included a 4 oz portion of flank steak on one of the salads. Drinks arrived (13 minutes: 1 beer, 2 cocktails, one glass of wine) . The bar was lively - but not so packed so much that an efficient bartender team (?) could not handle. 10 minutes after the drinks were delivered, one of the diner's meals food arrives cold and in advance of all the other dishes. So one person eats while the others watch. Food quality comment: The soup and mussels were cold and the mussel dish had no broth. While I understand it is the chef's purview to prepare dishes how he / she sees fit, this was strange given that the dish came with bread and that I've never seen mussels served sans broth. Tomato soup was average. 7:10 pm - still no food and the waiter's hair is not on fire with this fact. Table tending was failing by all standards at this point. 7:25 (still no food) I've made management aware that at 7:40 we need leaving little time to eat assuming the food ever came out of the kitchen, which is concern. to leave shortly. Other diners adjacent to us are experiencing the same issues and they were seated only moments after us. 7:35 pm our food arrives (with server apologies) to the three diners in our party who of course have to literally eat and run to make the curtain. A bottle of wine was taken off the check and a box was brought to the table so we could fill our own leftovers. (Question: why does scraping the food off your plate on the table seem so much more objectionable than having a server do this out of sight?) So the moral of the story is this: there is a huge disconnect between the servers on the floor, the capabilities of the kitchen and the ability of management to handle either. The kitchen can't queue up food properly, which then leads to them not being able to keep food hot and they can't handle a theater rush. Hint: wouldn't the "theater rush" be your major preparation drill - especially weekends when a Broadways smash hit is playing 75 feet way for a month? Alewife's menu is bar-food average but aspires to be a bit more hip. A huge amount of mciro-draughts is attractive and the old bank space shows well. But Alewife, the third iteration of a bistro in t this space in approximately 5 years needs to wake up and manage the diner queue, realizing that the location is perpetually in the cross hairs of a dinner rush as a result of their proximity to a theater (a year round driver of business.) If they do not, look for a fourth operator in the space shortly.
(2)Deb S.
The food was great, but the kitchen lost our order so I can't give it 5 stars. We arrived early and although our table was empty and reserved, they wouldn't seat us. They also made us stand in the bar for 20 minutes and we had to close that bill out before we walked 20 feet to our dinner table. Very high noise level. We got an appetizer in just a few minutes - fried calamari and it was very good, great sauce. Then we waited an hour and several followups with our waitress and another server to eventually get out meal, barely in time to make it to the theater. Did not enjoy rushing the food when we finally got it, but we all felt the food was excellent. Two people commented that their crab cakes were the best they have had, which is a lot coming from a real Baltimorean! The oyster appetizer and the fried artichokes were fabulous as well. The waitress was terrific except for not realizing the order was lost. We all agreed we would come back again, enjoyed the food and atmosphere - we just won't be such patient patrons next time:)
(4)Mike M.
I've been here about 5 times now. The hamburger and beer selection are pretty unsurpassed for Balto. Crab cake appetizer was decent. They may have more beers somewhere (like Max's maybe) but the bartender's know more about how to guide you through a tasting. When I came with my son and the place was packed, the hostess helped accomodate us in the bar area which she didn't have to go through the trouble of doing. Would probably give them 4.5 stars. Do open table on game days as there are a lot of groups.
(4)Tori H.
A friend had reported back that he ate at Alewife and had THE BEST steak paired with red wine, that he has ever had. My husband (also a chef), immediately had to go. Between 3 people, we ordered the Wild Mushroom Risotto Cake (seemed a bit flavorless), Kobe Beef Hot Dog (definitely interesting), Shrimp Croquette (didn't taste much of the shrimp), and Mussels. Wasn't thrilled with the dishes, but our friends experience will keep us going back a 2nd time to try the steak. The beer selection, however, is phenomenal! Would definitely go back if for nothing else but happy hour.
(3)Andrea F.
Good food and excellent beer list but man is it SLOW service!!!
(3)Pat Y.
what an awful experience. it is so loud it is painful. not a great place before the theater. I guess for drinking but not a pleasant conversation. ugh
(1)Heather S.
Good looking bar, and a cool looking space. There are good fries but no decent dipping sauces, and some other interesting apps. Its a small menu, but the bar serves a really great gin, just as good as Hendricks, but something i had not had before.
(4)Michelle I.
My two friends and I headed up to Baltimore for the weekend to see Rihanna at the First Mariner Arena. The original plan was to eat somewhere near the arena before the show. Of course I researched on Yelp for the best places to eat. I love me some Maryland crabs so the first one that caught my attention was Faidley's Seafood. Having seen the Wire, the walk from our car to Faidley's was a little scary. The sidewalks were pretty much empty except for some homeless people. When we finally found the restaurant I was very disappointed to see that it was closed. A lady sitting on the curb informed us that they close at 6pm. My first thought was to hurry up and get the hell back to the arena. As we walked back to the Arena we decided to find another place to eat. Alewife just happened to be on the way back. I saw on Yelp that it got good reviews so we decided to try it out. We tried to get a table, but the hostess said that they were all booked for the evening. I thought it was a little weird they didn't at least have a waiting list for walk-ins. Luckily we were able to grab a corner of the bar to grab some drinks and food. The bartender was a little slow to take our drink and food orders, but when she did, she was friendly. I tried the Savoy cocktail (Ketel One vodka, fresh grapefruit, topped w/champagne) and it was delicious. For entrées, my friend and I decided to split the Seared Crab Cakes appetizer and the Airliner Chicken Breast. While the Crab Cakes were meaty, the flavor just wasn't there for me. The menu said it came with smoked bacon cream, but I didn't really get much of it. It probably would of helped out the crab cake. The chicken on the other hand, was delicious but really small! I think the best thing about this dish was the spanish tomato pan sauce and chipotle chive whipped potato. For kicks, I put the sauce and potato over my flavorless crab cakes, and what do you know, it was delicious! However, I think the highlight of the meal was the Duck Fat Fries! I could not stop eating them. I knew I would have to dance the entire concert to burn them off. So if I could, I would give Alewife 3.5 stars for my first experience. I know their claim to fame is the Smoke Burger, so if I visit Baltimore again, I will definitely try them again and hopefully will result in a 4 or 5 star experience.
(3)Jim D.
Went with my wife on Friday 12/30/11, prior to going to the Hippodrome across the street. Had read some reviews about the homey pub style of this place and it sounded good. We were not disappointed. We had the smoked 11oz. hamburger with the duck fat fries. Delicious! The burger was cooked perfectly and the combination of the top quality beef, with the grilled onions and the bacon on top was a real treat. We ended up trying a few of the many brews they have on tap...the best of which was the Dogfish Head Bitch's Brew special...a stout...The wait staff was good and the atmosphere was perfect for our night out.
(4)Eric J.
Food was ok. Beer selection was excellent!
(3)Marcel H.
Their selection of beer is Good, and varies with time. Atmosphere is great, food is good too. The mug-club is a rip-off. You will have to finish in a year and spend an average of $40-50 per week. That is just too steep...
(4)Dianna P.
Great food and very friendly staff. The boar meatballs are excellent as a light meal.
(4)Eric E.
Stopped in and had a draft beer. The place isn't really noticeable from the street so keep your eyes peeled for the sign. The stout I had was delicious. The atmosphere was typical of an English pub, cool in some ways and nothing special in other ways. It was very loud in there and hard to have a conversation. I did not order food but did try some "duck fat French fries". They fry them in duck fat which is supposed to give them a much more flavorful and moist taste. I didn't really notice a difference other than they were just flat out awesome fries. I believe they were fresh cut too. The dipping sauce was different and a very good compliment to the fries. I'd go back but not out of my way to do it.
(3)MissEasy T.
I go here for 2 reasons: 1) Tap lineup consistently awesome and 2) I can get there via lightrail, consume a few high octane brews and get home safely (and cheaply). If not for these 2 compelling reasons, I would not bother. Food is slightly above average pub fare and bartenders spend most of their time chatting with regulars, friends and other staff members. They don't seem to care to chat w/ non-regulars and are not enthusiastic about beer. They do not constantly scan the customers seated at the bar to monitor their consumption or anticipate their needs or to just seize and opportunity to be friendly. When asked for beer suggestions, they will offer input but again, not w/ much enthusiasm. Unfortunately, bartending seems to be a dying art in Baltimore and restaurants have forgotten that a really friendly, knowledgable bartender who works at cultivating regulars can be just as much a draw as a great selection of beer and/or good food!
(3)Brian M.
My friend and I walked to The Alewife before an O's game. I had high hopes but was disappointed. I had the smoke burger and it wasn't as great as the reviews led me to believe. I would call it mediocre at best. The high price makes me want to deem it a total failure as a burger. It was lacking flavor and dry. The burger appeared thick but when the bun was removed I could see that it was a mm thin throughout the center. I ordered the duck fat fries and I believe they were regular fries, not well cooked, with some garlic and herbs sprinkled on them. I've had duck fat fries several times and these weren't it. The beer selection is vast but the 4 beers we tried tasted like the tap lines had soured or maybe the glasses had a funky taste? I don't know. The bartender was friendly and knowledgeable and provided us with good service. The food seemed to take a long time to reach us even though It was a Thursday at 4PM and we were the only ones there. My friend ordered the "fish and chips". The fish was well prepared and tasty. The "chips" turned out to be fried yucca strips, which normally I enjoy, but these were nearly dehydrated and greasy. My friend did not eat them. I'm not a picky eater but I did not enjoy this restaurant and wouldn't go back.
(2)Aminah F.
VERY IMPRESSED. Great service, great selection of beer and amazing pub fare. Their rockfish is delicious.
(4)Tommy F.
The food was excellent, they had an awesome selection of craft beers and the service was good considering that liberal Canadian d-bag was in town. Great place to stop in and grub!
(5)Henry C.
I went there on a night before an Orioles game and they were not that busy. 1) Incredibly slow service 2) The waiter got 3 out of 8 beers wrong 3) Waiter took orders from half our party and left only to come back 20 minutes later to finish taking orders 4) The floors were incredibly slippery like they had grease spilled over it 5) 2 medium-rare burgers ordered, one was well done while the other was rare. Great concept but poor execution.
(1)Danielle K.
I've only had the black bean burger and fries here - which are actually very good. It's a good place for beer, but I really like their cocktails as well. I only give this place 3-stars because despite the food and drink being good, they're pricey and the service is blah.
(3)Zoey M.
Awesome space, love the look of the place. Beer selection on tap is impressive and so is the bottle list. I've never actually gotten a bottle because they have so many choices on tap. I feel that the drafts are priced well too. Service is sometimes slow on a busy night but every member of the staff is personable and fun. Some of the food is almost brilliant flavor-wise. There are a few misses along the way but the chef is open to experimentation so that goes with the territory. The menu can get pricey but it's really far above your usual pub grub. I do wish they had more choices on the red meat heavy menu that didn't have pork or beef but I'm sure I'm in the minority. Also, the chef has got to stop covering everything in greens. They taste great and are pretty but are so tangled it's almost impossible to eat unless you want the whole wad in your mouth. Overall, a great place to hang out and spend a few hours trying some good beer.
(4)Brian F.
Alewife is a classic case of a potentially great location ruined by poor implementation. I took my family there right before a show at the Hippodrome... what I expected was a great beer selection and good food. What I found was quite possibly the worst service I've had in Baltimore (50min to get a sandwich), mediocre food, and it's namesake... ales... are an enigma to the staff. We love to try new things and beers are one of them... but if you're going to have an esoteric selection you had better staff your place with people who know an ale from a lager, a pale ale from a belgian, and be able to answer a wife's question such as "what do you have in a slightly sweet amber" with a better answer than... "I don't know, I don't really like beer" (I'm SERIOUS). Avoid Alewife, there are much better choices in the area. Maybe try back in a few years if they survive... which they may simply due to the location being across the street from the Hippodrome.
(1)Andy F.
More beers than Pratt Street, Brewer's Art, etc. A great selection with something for everyone. The food was solid too. I enjoyed the kobe beef hotdog! The bartender was a great conversation and the interior was very intriguing. The surrounding area isn't overly nice to walk through, but you can get around this by walking southeast on your way out.
(5)Jonathan H.
As a graduate student who lives nearby, I have been desperate for someone to take over the space that Alewife now occupies and reinvigorate it. My prayers have been answered! The Place: Located in what appears to be an old bank near the Hippodrome, Alewife has an open concept with giant chalk-boards that serve as menus detailing the ever-changing assortment of beers available on tap and by the bottle. The main room is dark, not quiet--think Cheers, but with a higher ceiling. There is also at least one other side room that would be good to use as a meeting/private happy hour room. While the decor could be more complete, the place opened recently, so I'm giving them a pass for now. The beer: 40 beers. On tap. Need I say more? I don't need to, but I will. This beer menu doesn't feature your traditional Baltimore fare of Boh, Miller Lite, and Boston Lager. What it does feature is some great local and not-so-local beer. If you're like me, you don't spend your time researching all 40 beers. Waive any one of the waitstaff over and they'll help you out. Tell them what you like and they'll be able to point you in the right direction. Still not sure? Ask for a free taste to try before you buy. While looking up at the chalkboard may get annoying, a server assured me that printed menus were in the works. Oh, and did I mention the bottled beer selection is also huge? The food: If you've ever tried to get a bite to eat near Camden Yards at a good restaurant, then you'll understand why I think Alewife is such a necessary addition to the neighborhood. So far I've tried the smoke burger, and the cubano. I echo the comments that appear elsewhere on the smoke burger (one of the top 10 burgers I've had), and will say that the cubano was tasty, crispy, and wonderful. I wished the salad accompanying the cubano had a little more to it, but that's a nit that should be worked out as the kitchen gets its legs under itself. My other minor quibble is with the tempura fennel frites--at $6, the portion size should be bigger. That being said, they were really tasty. The service: As I said above, the staff is very eager to help you out when deciding over beer. This helpfulness extends to food as well. My water glass is always full throughout my stay and they're happy to hang around or stay away. In short, they do exactly what someone who's running a gastropub like this should do when running the front of the house. I sincerely hope that Alewife stays around. My feeling is that if they keep it up, they will.
(5)Mike W.
Alewife is great! My wife and I recently ate here for a birthday dinner. I had the fillet, she had the kobe beef hot dog. Both were delicious. The hot dog was served in a pretzel roll with buffalo chili and three kinds of handmade mustard. It could not have been better. The fillet could have had a little more flavor, but was cooked well and delicious. But the real reason one goes to Alewife is for the beer. I had the Stone Brewery's Levitation and then the Evolution IPA. When I was uncertain or unfamiliar with a beer choice, the waitstaff was informative and would even bring out a shot for tasting. I'll keep coming back to Alewife as often as I have the opportunity.
(5)sarah b.
the food pisses me off and the female bartender will serve every man before ever making eye contact with any females waiting to order (not just me, seriously). that being said, i cannot find a better IPA selection in this town so i will keep going back.
(4)Jessica L.
I went to Alewife the other night and was blown away by the incredible food, awesome drink menu, and excellent service. The place had a great vibe - people were there celebrating a birthday, celebrating someone's conquering of the 150 beer list, and generally having a great time. I had the best burger I've ever had along with risotto cakes, fish tacos, and much more. I recommend going there with a group, all ordering different things and splitting so you can try as many things as possible. I can't wait to go back the next time I'm in Baltimore!
(5)C W.
if i was to rate the bar, it might've been 5 stars...but for the restaurant, they definitely get just 1. Our burger came out raw...we asked for medium and it still looked like raw ground beef and fell/flaked apart like raw ground meat, it was disgusting.
(3)Alicyn D.
Two friends and I went here on Tuesday night, prior to seeing Jersey Boys at The Hippodrome. I made a reservation, knowing full well they would probably get a lot of theater traffic. We were sat fairly quickly and had a great seat in the window. For drinks, I had the Delirium Tremens and my friends had the Baltimore Seasonal and Castro's Passion cocktails. All were delicious. For dinner I had the Alewife Salad (one of the best starter salads I've ever had! Asparagus, Greens, Pears, and Bleu Cheese), the Tuna Tartare Appetizer (delicious and great quality), and an order of Duck Fat Fries for the table (crisp and tasty). My friends both had the salad too, the Smoke Burger (I heard it was tasty) and the Cuban Sandwich (I heard it was good as well). We couldn't stop talking about the food after we left. The service was good too. I will definitely come back here, even when not going to a show. I love the atmosphere, the food, and especially love the beer selection! I since paid a visit here and had the Crab Deviled Eggs as an appetizer - interesting but good. I also had the Smoke House Burger (An 11oz House Ground Ribeye, Brisket, Skirt and Filet of Beef Burger, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere Cheese, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun) which was OUT OF THIS WORLD! If you love burgers, you must try this.
(4)Jess F.
I thought that I was really going to LOVE Alewife, but was majorly disappointed. To give credit where it is due, the space is fantastic- just as great as when it was Maggie Moore's. The beer list is phenomenal, and the menu is exciting. However, we went on a Tuesday night at 8 pm and while it was busy (likely due to groupon/living social coupons expiring the next day) it wasn't like it was a full house. Our drinks arrived in a timely manner, but we waited an hour for our appetizer (which it should be pointed out was only a bowl of soup- a pretty good one, actually). Then, we waited over another hour for our food. The waitress kept assuring us it would be just a few more minutes (through no fault of her own, I should point out), but the kitchen just didn't have it together. The table of two next to us, who were seated at the same time we were, were already finished were their food (ironically, they placed the same order we did) at that point. As it had been 2 hours and 15 minutes since we were seated, we politely asked the waitress if we could just pay for the drinks/soup and be on our way. At 10:15, we had little interest left in even eating the long awaited food. She asked if we'd be interested in at least taking the food to-go, on the house (which seemed fair). The smoke burger and the Kobe beef hot dog were just okay- although I suspect that being packaged up and steaming in the to-go boxes took away from what they might have been otherwise. The duck-fat fries were not in fact duck-fat fries, or at least were nothing like any duck-fat fries we've ever had previously. Was the food bad? No. Was it fabulous? No. I'd absolutely go back for beers, but doubt I'd be ordering food (as good as it sounds on the menu) unless I had lots of time to kill waiting around for it.
(2)Patience M.
Service was good. But the menu is rather limited. My party of 10 decided to order the pork-belly mac&cheese fries as an appetizer which was good (the collard greens and mac&cheese were really good) but the fries on their own were just blah! Most entrees are served with a side of fries, I think more options for sides would be great. I had the black bean burger which was juicy and fairly good. I was disappointed that they skimped on the guacamole. In retrospect, I should have asked if they offer a salad substitute for the fries. It was Monday night - trivia night and the group participated, which was fun to do non-competitively.
(3)Mark M.
Wow. The neighborhood was really sketchy, but this place is great. We had a great time. Had reservations, but got there a bit early and found seats at the bar. Great beer selection and cocktails for the wife. Great food and wonderful atmosphere, everyone was so nice to us. I had the smoke burger, my wife had the mussels after we split an app or two. Had planned on going to Brewers Art next, but had so much fun here, we never made it. Maybe next trip.
(4)Steven D.
Synopsis: Atmosphere: 3.5/5 Service: 4/5 Taste: 5/5 Price: 3.5/5 Selection: 4/5 This place is mainly a bar with some food items. While the food may be a little low in selection, the food items are so very good to eat. The selection of beers is so very long it is crazy. The atmosphere of this place is pretty good. Built in an old bank, and has the original interior it seems. However, when I went the music was a little loud. I was still able to talk, but it could have been turned down. I have been there other times and the music was fine, but the most recent time it was a little loud. I went in the evening, so that could have been the case. Service wasn't bad at all. Got the food in a very reasonable amount of time, the server was nice, and we got our beers in a quick time too. The taste is excellent. I got the burger they have to offer and it was awesome. I have had the burger multiple times and it never fails to impress me. The fries they have are made in duck fat and are great. The selection, as I said early, could be expanded in the food department. While the food is great, I feel like there could be more food. The drinks however are perfect. So many to choose from. Now the price of the food is good for the quality, but the amount for the drinks is a little high. I believe this place is a microbrewery, so it is going to be high, but it seemed quite pricy for my tastes. The beers that I got were really good, but cost a pretty penny. Overall, if you want a good burger and good beer then this place will be for you. Just be prepared to pony up a good amount of cash.
(4)Steve G.
Alewife has one of the better beer selections in the area but be prepared to pay Manhattan prices. Most are between $7 and $11 for a 12oz pour which works out to about $9-$15 a pint. If you want a beer and a $16 burger this place is just OK, the rest of the menu (I have been several times prior to concerts at the Hippodrome) is pretty disappointing. This time I thought I would order the chicken waffle sliders and all they are is a Chick Fil A nugget and a bit of bacon and cheese between two mini Eggo frozen waffles - like the ones you toast and break into 4. I was speechless. $14 for three of them. It should be offered as an appetizer for $8. I finished my meal before my buddy was 1/4 way through his burger. The fellow on the table next to me got some other similar slider 'entree' and ended up eating that and half his wife's burger. Decor is interesting. It's an old bank with wood paneling, old wood floors and peeling paint. Clientele seems to be a lot of hipster dudes with full beards and backpacks. It's that kind of place. The saving grace is the beer selection but as previousuly mentioned, take your check book. Worth a try if you're off to the Hippodrome, otherwise, I wouldn't go out of my way to find this place.
(2)Z S.
If you're going for a beer - 3.5 stars. Anything else 1.5 stars. Do not order the chicken and waffle sliders, all they are is deep fried mini eggo waffles ( the ones you put in the toaster and break into 4 mini pieces) a large chicken nugget, small piece of bacon and cheese. And there's only 3 of them. For $14......? Absolutely absurd. Granted they were decent, there's no way I can give more than two stars. Especially because the server brought me shrimp and grits sliders!!
(2)Leo O.
Came here with a group of 11 and we had no issues getting seated. Granted it was on a tuesday evening. We all ordered from their draught section and one of us ordered their fried oysters. In terms of the fried oysters, it was just okay. Basically it was spicy buffalo wings sauce but over oysters. It didn't go well together. Frying oysters didnt work well either because it tasted even more soggy due to the inherent texture of oysters. I am no expert in beers but I actually liked the beer that I got: Flying Dog Dead Rise. I liked the subtle hint of spicyness in the beer due to the old bay spice. It wasn't too hoppy for me. They give a decent sized glass. Service was decent. Only thing was that the table had not been wiped down before we sat down and was not wiped down throughout our time there. I would recommend this place if you wanted to go somewhere else but still near the convention center. In terms of food, if the appetizer was any representation, I would be hesitant in recommending their food.
(3)Steve L.
Oddly, the burger is the worst part of the otherwise great Smoke Burger. Hit the Alewife (incidentally the Red Line terminus in Cambridge, MA) late Preakness Saturday to soak up racetrack alcohol and winnings. Glad to see it open until two. Got the ballyhooed Smoke Burger with duckfat fries, and the initial impression was one of terrific flavor; unfortunately, this did not hold up with extended chewing. The culprit was an altogether unseasoned beef patty. Though it was clear that it was recently broken down from a fine slab of meat, they didn't bother to pursue beef umami Nirvanna. Basically a slab of grilled (premium) ground beef. The thick cut bacon saved the burger, but the star should have been the beef. Next time, Alewife, finish your signature burger.
(3)Randy G.
Inside has a nice appeal with the restaurant being a former bank. The vault and it's big think steel door remains giving it a cool look. Once the server mentioned it, you can begin recognizing the old bank layout shell. It's neat how they have preserved it while still giving it it's own interior design. They have a great selection of beer with some very good local options to try. We started with the Shrimp Grits and Thai Chicken Wings. These are two great starters with the plates being cleared. The shrimp was cooked nicely along with the grits. It had nice flavor contrast between the two. The wings are a get-again dish with the sauce the true star. The chicken was tender and the sauce had a great sweet and tangy flavor to draw you in for the next wing. On the server's recommending, they are supposed to be known for their burgers. Therefore why not try their signature Smoked Burger with Duck Fat Fries. Well, they probably could have kept both and wish I had tried something else. This place started on such a great note, but fizzled out with their so called star. The burger was cooked to my liking, but didn't have any of the flavor I was expecting. Smoked? Not sure if the meat was supposed to have a smoked flavor or the cheese. Either way, I didn't get any of it. For the fries, they were more of the soggy texture than a nice outer crunch and soft inside. They either were sitting around or not cooked long enough. They started off with a few good hits in the beginning, but struck out later in the game.
(3)Caitlin R.
I've heard good things about this place and I've been meaning to try it. We came as a group of 14 (had a 7:30 reservation) and were seated in the back room. After reading so-so reviews of this place, I decided I wasn't going to listen to that, because the menu looked simple and good, and the beer list was extensive! I read someone's review from 2012, and it was EXACTLY what I wanted to say. It seems like things haven't changed much. But here's my take: Bad service - the waitress walked by us quite a few times before ever even coming over and saying anything. We were waiting for friends to trickle in to eat, but would have loved to get started with a beer. Also, she would come to half of the table and walk away before asking anyone else if they needed anything. This pretty much caused me anxiety because I felt rushed and like I always had to be on the look out for her. She would also come over to take an empty glass, or regretfully inform us that they didn't have a beer, the keg was kicked, or they were out of that, and not ask if anyone else needed anything. Food - Meh. Had better. Brussels, skip. Go to Rocket to Venus instead if you want some bomb ass brussels. Shrimp and Grits - the best thing I tried on their menu. The sauce that accompanies the fried grit balls with the shrimp completes the dish. Delicious. The Smoke Burger - about 6 of them ordered Medium rare to Medium range....6 of them came out well done. Who wants this "amazing" burger well done? (the menu says to please be patient when ordering this because it may take a while....maybe that's why, because they are cooking them all well done.....just saying). The Roasted Eggplant Dip - strong flavors, but salty. Not worth $10 bucks. The black bean burger - It's fine. Nothing special. I couldn't taste the difference between the regular fries and the duck fat fries. Go to Annabelle Lee's (in Canton/Highlandtown) for some better duck fat fries (and a good beer selection). Drinks - Great selection, but they were out of a lot, the keg was kicked, or they just didn't have some. Beware - the whiskeys don't have prices - Whistle Pig Boss Hog - $34. I had the Burley Oak Tart Attack ($7) - and it was delicious. I also ordered the Bahn It To Me (Vodka, pickled carrots, cilantro, carrot tops, lemon, and cayanne). I really enjoyed this very interesting cocktail, and props to them for trying something different and ballsy, but it was served without the cilantro and carrot tops. I asked for the cilantro, and was given it on the side, I'm not sure if it was supposed to be muddled or what, but I just added it. Good flavor. Atmosphere - Neat. Used to be an old bank. If you have a table of 4, you can sit inside one of the old vaults which is pretty cool. So bottom line: If you work in the area and had a rough day or you are seeing a show at the Hippodrome, sure, stop in for a drink or 2. If you're looking for dinner and drinks, go somewhere else. There are a ton of other awesome places in the city. Personally, I won't be back.
(2)Clare C.
Met up with some co-workers here after work. The ambiance made for a fun experience, and the beer list was impressive. The shrimp/grits croquettes were certainly delicious, although definitely a bit overpriced for the amount of food - a burger or other sandwich would have been better bang for my buck. I'd go back for a drink and atmosphere, but probably not for food.
(4)Rachel L.
On a Friday evening for dinner, my friend Nicole and I were looking to grab a burger and a beer and just catch up. If you're looking for a burger in Baltimore, many are familiar with Abbey Burger which is constantly being written up as the best burger in Baltimore. And if you want plenty of options, that's a great spot. But when you're craving a a great burger, and you don't feel like building it yourself, Alewife is worth a visit. It's also one of the many spots in Baltimore that I have a City Dining Card for. After sitting down and looking over the impressive drink menu, seriously this place is worth a visit for its beer list alone. My friend and I each decided to get the burger. I got it because I know how awesome it is, she probably got it because I hyped it up all day long. The Smoke Burger is 11oz of beef topped with smoked gouda, gruyere, bacon, caramelized onion, and chipotle aioli on a brioche bun. And if that burger isn't amazing enough on its own, it comes with a side of duck fat fries. This burger is so juicy and packed with delicious smoky flavors. It's hands down my favorite burger in Baltimore. If you're looking for a notable beer list and a great burger, I'd highly recommend Alewife.
(4)GT W.
Huge amount of tap system in a near chapel-like space with massive dark wood beam rafters and a high ceiling with balconies looking down. We had great service and very good food like "Kobe beef" hotdogs, turkey legs, barbecue pork. Decent bottle list. Even though the tap list is very large, the variety isn't as impressive as Stillwater's Of Love & Regret or Max's. However, I think the food and ambiance here is much better than Max's.
(3)Alex F.
Great burger and duck fat fries. Large selection of really good beers, but pricey. In a sketchy area of bmore.
(4)Becca R.
Came back to Alewife a few weeks ago on a rare date night for some drinks and dinner. My suspicions were right that we should have made reservations, but we were lucky to snag the last two seats at the bar. It was packed wall to wall by the time we left. You have to not only take into account shows at the Hippodrome, but also the Arena and Everyman Theatre. The bartender was great, sometimes it's just more fun sitting at the bar, so it worked out. Some changes since I wrote my last review, they have a beer menu with the prices listed, which I appreciate. We both got the black bean burger and it was delicious. I love when restaurants make their own veggie burger patties because I am so sick those frozen patties dressed up in different ways. Alewife's burger had a little flavor kick to it and the fries were also good. Definitely will be back the next time we see a show at the arena as this is now the tradition.
(4)Cam K.
Good beer selection. Snake head cakes was a good appetizer. Smoked burger was ok. Overall pretty cool upscale bar. Would not get the burger again
(3)Eileen H.
I was so disappointed by my experience at Alewife. We went around lunchtime on a weekend. There were a number of parties in there, but didn't look like it had been packed all morning or anything, so I was surprised when our waitress told us that the first THREE items that we wanted weren't available! The menu is very short, so that's something that they should have a handle on. This really damaged my experience there. Also, the fact that they don't have caffeinated coffee (I mean, it's a bar, so I didn't really expect coffee, but was surprised when our waitress said they served decaf, but not caffeinated? Finally, the women's bathroom is on a completely different floor than the eating/drinking area. The ambiance is charming, and our waitress was wonderful. The food was pretty good, and I thought it was really cool that they marked off entrees that make use of invasive or over-populated species. If my friends were dying to go back, I'd try it again, but at this point, wouldn't really recommend it to anyone.
(2)Mindy M.
Grilled goat cheddar cheese and bacon sandwich with smokey tomato jam soup. A+. Skip the Thai peanut wings- very pedestrian. More soon- enjoying the O's ALDS game 1 win!!!!!!
(3)Christopher W.
This would be my second time coming to this place due to me not really remembering if I liked or disliked the place. The lesson I learned was that there was not a reason for Alewife to make me remember liking the place. Nothing really against the waiter that helped me, but he really was frustrating to deal with. I simply asked if I could switch the cheeses to cheddar on the burger, and his reply was that I am not allowed to change anything on the burger. I didnt really understand why. Was the burger premade? was the burger toppings not allowed to be put on the side? After a long time of talking with him, it simply came down to the fact that they did not stock any other cheeses. So I just simply asked if the cheese could be omitted and my burger cooked medium rare. Now, at this point in time I was pretty frustrated and prayed to god that the burger was kick ass because I seldomly eat burgers without cheese. The result? terri-bad... not only was the burger not cooked medium rare, but the patty did not have much taste to it. The really only saving grace was that the fries were good and the beer selection they had was good. BTW, the lunch selection is very small... better to come for dinner as they do NOT serve the dinner menu during lunch time.
(3)Barathi S.
I always get the same thing here, which I usually don't like doing but if you know what you like... The black bean burger and alewife salads are awesomely delicious. The burger is a thick party and very soft on the inside. It comes with yummy thin cut fries (which I prefer over the duck fat fries) . The salad is also amazing with candied nuts blue cheese and apples ... Mm could really go for that now! They have tons of beers on tap and will happily offer you a suggestion if you tell them your taste preferences. The decor (a converted old bank) is also great. If you are trivia inclined then check it out on Monday evenings.
(4)Julie H.
I had the cider and the messels both were quite tasty
(4)Ivy C.
Visited twice. I ordered the Smoke Burger but sadly it came well done instead of medium rare. I ate it anyway because it took so long. I didn't taste any "smoky" flavor which I expected too given the name . The patty was very dry so I had to wash eat bite down with my drink. The fries were nice and crispy but I couldn't taste any hint of the duck fat that they are supposed to be fried in. At $16.00 I expected better, but it was just "meh...". The second visit I ordered the fish tacos which were good, not great , but good ...but I was still hungry and ordered the thai wings which arrived cold and had the texture of boiled chicken skin coated in some spicy sauce, not what I expected. Our waiter took forever to take each of our orders, they were busy but it seemed like other people were being looked after just fine. On the plus side I do like the atmosphere there and it is a great place to try out a variety of draft beers. So even though the food I ordered was unimpressive... The concept is good but I believe there is room for improvement. I wanted to give 3.5 stars but there are no halfsies on Yelp :-( I will still go back but probably stick with some appetizers at the bar.
(3)Allison R.
Baltimore has so many great places to eat and this is one of those places. We went yesterday for opening day for the first time. Of course it was packed, but we were still able to get some drinks. We also were able to snag a table... The host was awesome! The food did take a while but you know what, we got a table on opening day. And it was worth it! My husband and I split the Brussels sprouts and the smoke burger with duck fat fries. The Brussels sprouts were buttery and topped with bacon crumbles. Yum. The burger was cooked perfectly (though it wasn't as special as the description made it sound, but it was still delicious). The bun was buttered and fluffy, and I'm really picky about bread. I won't eat it if it isn't fresh and not worth the calories. Not the case here. Oh let's not forget the... Duck. Fat. Fries. That's all I'll say about that. The orange crushes I enjoyed (um... Opening day!) were made with fresh oranges. Fresh freaking oranges sliced and squeezed on the spot for your order. They were $6 and amazing. Great way to kick of the season despite the loss. Definitely stop by to pre game, but expect to stand unless you get lucky. I don't think they typically take reservations but they did for opening day. Worth calling ahead and asking.
(5)Jenny B.
Not a huge fan of Alewife: I find their menu to be limited and overpriced. Although I live like 2 min walking distance away, I don't often go because I feel like the food is not worth it for the price. The menu consists of burgers and other typical bar menu foods. I think there are more worthwhile places nearby (like Maiwand grill!) to go to!
(3)Frank S.
I firmly believe that Alewife has the best curated selection of beer in Baltimore. They always have a thoughtful variety and I'm never left without many options. I think the atmosphere is enjoyable and I've not seen it too crowded. As far as vegan fare, not too much. I've only had the Black Bean Burger on a ciabatta roll (minus chipotle aioli) and french fries, but it's quite good. For drinking: 5 stars. For vegan dining: 3 stars (just because they at least have something. Overall: 4 stars.
(4)Brook H.
We only ate here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon, so our review is rather limited. The location was rather empty, with only a single server, single bartender, and very few patrons. This place may be completely different during a weekend evening, so we can only comment on the service and food. Our server was perfectly fine and attentive, so there was little to report there. The food was very good and nicely done, but they had a very limited menu. I'm not sure if it expands during busy hours but I can see people with strict palates having problems. Their duck fat fries were awesome, though, and I think they are a must! The decor is really cool, as the building is rather old. Again, maybe when it's prime time, full of people, live music, etc., the feel of this place becomes more vibrant. Otherwise, it was like visiting a historic building and just sitting quietly. If I ever find the time to truly enjoy the night life (which means escaping kids and responsibilities), I'll give it a try again. I see a lot of potential that maybe I just missed on my singular visit.
(3)Kate A.
Great place in downtown Baltimore. On a cold, snowy winter day, perhaps it's a bit of a walk from the Inner Harbor. The fish tacos are phenomenally good, so good that I'm glad that I walked in the snow to enjoy them. There are a wide variety of beers to choose from. The noise level is high (at least on Friday nights). Service is good.
(4)Liz J.
In case you didn't know, Alewife offers 40 beers on tap! This is really for those of you who have never been to Alewife, because as soon as you walk in the door, you're surrounded by signs letting you know about their extensive draft selection. And you know what? It's a pretty good selection. Even I, a very picky beer drinker, found something delicious. The nice part about the drafts is that you can ask for a sample if you're feeling adventurous, but don't want to commit to the sticker price of a full glass. The food was really good, although the food menu is much smaller than the drink menu. I had the soup of the day (broccoli and gouda), and although I could feel the heavy cream going right to my hips, every bite was delicious. Well, every bite but the last bite, which I couldn't get, because the soup was served in a square bowl, leaving some of that creamy goodness to the dishwasher. Soup shouldn't go in square bowls! Salad? Sure. Mac and cheese? Perhaps. But soup? Round bowl please! I also had a black bean burger which had some good flavor, and was accompanied by sweet potato fries. I'm still not sure whether or not I liked the seasoned mayo that came with the dish, but I couldn't stop dipping my fries into it because it had a really interesting flavor. Besides the signs making sure you know they have 40 beers on tap, it had a nice ambiance. There are two sections - the front with the bar and tvs for people trying to catch a game and hang out with friends. We sat in the back section and had a bit of a quieter evening away from the tvs, and in the freezing weather, got a cozy spot right by the fireplace. So there are definitely options depending on what you want.
(4)Bernie C.
I can't believe I haven't written an Alewife review yet! An extensive collection of beers. The recommendations are usually pretty great. I'm just going to mention the smokehouse burger and duck fat fries because they are in fact delicious and should be mentioned despite the fact that every person on here has mentioned them. Still, I am here to advocate for the veggies and the appetizers. The chicken liver pate was such a happy little jar of food for me. Tasty. Delicious toast. The crispy artichokes made me re-fall in love with artichokes. Even people who don't like artichokes will like the crispy artichokes. Because those artichokes that come from a can that people put on salads? Not really the best artichokes can taste. The tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons = adorable. Nothing too too special, but grilled cheese croutons? Cute factor. I am also a fan of their Brussel sprouts. I love brussel sprouts though. My future child will watch television shows where the child won't eat the Brussel sprouts and just laugh at their stupidity. I am also a fan of their macaroni and cheese. Cheesy. Very hot. Salty creamy happiness. Fellow diners, if you feel you must get the burger, get the burger. But definitely explore that lite fare side of the page to start or share.
(4)Timothy S.
Had a great time at Alewife this evening. Val the bartender was amazing, well versed in her beer knowledge. Thank you so much for your great service! Had a few beers from their 40 tap system all of which were quite uncommon and served in the correct, clean, glassware. Everyone on the staff was quite attentive and super helpful, my glass was never left empty. I will definitely be back soon.
(5)Kaylee H.
I really like Alewife's beer selection. They have an incredible array of really rare (hipster. beautifully hipster) beers. Also, I must say that I have *ahem* selflessly volunteered myself to quality check their kamakaze shots on multiple occasions. They have received my stamp of approval. I really like their burgers, which come with some nice duck fat fries. On Mondays they have a really fun trivia night, which I have never managed to win, but there are prizes for the winners.
(5)Pissed off A.
Came by on a slow Sunday (plenty of seating) and ordered the bacon cheeseburger, medium rare, with duck fries - a truly satisfying meal! Now that football season is back, I'll definitely come back here again after catching a game!
(4)Ravi D.
The waiters and servers are rude. Will never go there again! We went there when only 3 tables were being served. It took the restaurant about 15 minutes to serve water. I noted that the server didn't introduce himself and almost threw the glasses around.
(1)Jennifer O.
I went here for lunch with some others who chose it. I ordered the catfish tacos, which were good, but nothing terribly special. Most of the other people with whom I went with, UMD employees and students, ordered the burger with duck fat fries and swear by it. The fries I snatched weren't the best executed, since they were a little floppy, but the burger looked like a HUGE amount of juicy meat. It took 20 minutes, maybe more between offering and receiving our food, though.
(3)Meredith E.
I love a good ol night of drinking at the Alewife. The bartenders and servers are awesome. On Mondays there is trivia hosted by a local theatre professional. Alewife always has an epic beer list. I love trying something new and delicious every time. On my latest visit, I finally tried the food and was severely disappointed. The entire menu sounded fantastic, but the taste was not there. The smoke burger was bland and the duck fat fries were cold. The bun had a 'should have been tossed out yesterday' feel. The fish tacos were the fishiest of all fish taco I have ever tried. I could not even finish one. It could be the rare evil fish they use. Seriously inedible. Overall, I love this place, but will never order food again.
(4)Sherris M.
Went here for an early Father's Day treat with the hubby. He read about it in the City Paper *hint, he finds most of our "spots" this way* Food great, atmosphere....LOUD...especially if it is game day (which it was on yesterday). The specialty drink I had, was the Great Gatzke was ehhhh. I wanted the Ginger Grant, but they didn't have any more basil (one of the key ingredients), the waiter said they could replace it with mint. Er-ummmm, basil v. mint. ummmmmmmmm, I'm going to go with NO!!! Never had the drink so I would at least like to taste what it's SUPPOSED to taste like before you go messing with it. The Great Gatzke was a'ight. I did order a 2nd, but that was because I had a nice "vodka" buzz from the first. Beer drinkers, they have an extensive Draft and Bottled selection, not really a beer drinker but I was impressed with all the options. Food came pretty quick. Starters were the mussels and grilled asparagus salad....both YUMMO. Entrees were Bluefish Tacos and a SmokeHouse Burger with a side of Fries, fried in Duck Fat. My 2nd experience with Duck Fat Frites, not as good as B & O Brasserie, but they were ok. After the game let out it got SUPER crowded. There was a William Donald Schaefer look alike standing in the entrance waiting for a table and then he, his head and his butt was next to my shoulder....THANKFULLY it was time to go. Would I go again, absolutely. We had a reservation and I would suggest you make one too, lest you have your butt on some poor unsuspecting diner's shoulder.
(4)Jack R.
Mussels: disappointing in the extreme. I came to Baltimore and ordered seafood; the seafood I ate would've been sub-par if I'd ordered it in Nebraska. The broth was weak , there were a share of bad mussels on the plate, and they just didn't taste that good. On the other hand, the meat of the Smoke Burger was delicious. The burger in its entirety was pretty good, but needed *something* else. I tasted the delicious meat, but tasted little else, and it wasn't such an enormous patty that it was substantial in its own right. The beer selection is a positive, but not stunning for a place that markets itself as a specialty beer place. At Alewife the meal I had just didn't feel like it justified its price.
(2)Will R.
Loved it. Great food and great beer selection. Place was very cool and servers were very cool. I wanted to go back, but there were too many options! If you like to eat and like to drink beer, go here Duck fries are always a treat
(4)Justin W.
First of all, their beer list is amazing. However, it comes at a cost. I found their beers cost on average $2-$5 more than some other places. Of course, they have a bigger selection including things you can't get elsewhere. Their house cocktails all sound very interesting and the sips of them that I have had were quite good. Again, they come at a cost, but not too much more than you would expect. The food was consistently good...if you can find what you want. I am not picky and am perfectly content with a hamburger. $15 for a hamburger may be a lot, but it is always good. I found that on most occasions, it was cooked more than I had asked, but I never minded since it was still good and juicy, which I care much more about than how pink it is or isn't. The fries were also consistently good The bites of the other food again has been good, but they have a small selection. It got better last time I was there, but I would hesitate to take a picky eater there unless they see the menu first. The atmosphere is first rate. I really like the style they chose and the feel of the place. I do not know if it just coincidence, but every time I have gone recently, it has been trivia night. I tend to not care and ignore it but it could get annoying for some. I do not know when they have it so check first if you care.
(4)Johanna B.
Mussels are tasty, good selection of beverages. Smoke burger and artichoke hearts were edible. Wouldn't go out of my way for the place, but i wouldn't kick and scream having to come if we were in the neighborhood.
(3)Faith A.
We ended up here post Orioles game as we were hungry and wanted something within a shorter walking distance from our hotel due to the massive heat that the area was experiencing. I found it online, it had some decent reviews, and it was close, and we were able to make a reservation, that made this seem like a simple choice for us. In retrospect, I am not happy with this as I feel like Baltimore had a lot more better choices probably for us to experience and enjoy. Great beer selection, but myself or my husband were really not intro drinking that evening. I can see why some people may like it for that. The hostess was not the most friendly of individuals at all so that started things off a little bad. The food was just "okay"... I had a salad and it really somehow did not match up with the description as it had some items on it not listed that I had to eat around. Their menu seemed a tad overpriced for a lot of the entrees too. I wish that they had some of the lunch menu choices on their dinner menu as they were more in line with what someone is looking for post game or in the heat. With all of the choices in the area, we will not be back on our next visit to the area.
(2)Korrin B.
Not likely to return. The waitress was not the friendliest person, they didn't have three of the four beers we asked for and the "vegan" black bean burger had no bun. I was not told this before ordering it, otherwise I would have just gotten a salad. Very lackluster. Cool atmosphere, though.
(2)Justin K.
My wife and I finally had a chance to get here after making several attempts and just never following through with plans. We took some out of town friends here that were staying at the Hilton. It was around 7 pm Saturday and we were waiting for our friends to come down so that we could go and I thought I should call and see what the wait is like. Upon calling the girl was very helpful and actually stated that we could get a reservation at 7:45. SWEET! We around at about 7:30 where the same girl who helped us was dealing with some rude old broad stating she needed to see the place they were going to eat at before she would eat there and that her husband is getting frustrated. I hate broads like that. I believe my wife stated, "What a pathetic excuse for a woman, hiding behind her husband like that." Ouch. The people that walked in before us were told that it was an hour wait with no reservations and then we were seated immediately. NICE; great customer service on their behalf for accommodating us like that. It was truly appreciated. The Beer Menu. One of the main reasons I wanted to come here was the Beer list, (the second was the burger and I will get to that in a minute). To me the draught list was a little lack luster. They did have 21st Amendment on tap and some Stillwater brews. But not a ton else that floated my boat personally. (Yes, they had dogfish on tap.) I was disappointed...UNTIL I turned to the Bottle list. BAM!! That was a great list of brews. I went with the 21st Amendment Brew Free IPA and a Stillwater Stateside Saison (this is an awesome farmhouse ale, one of the best out there in my opinion). Both were delicious. Out friends had a Dark and Stormy and the Sangria, both stated they were very good. The Food. This is where I personally went wrong and not the restaurant. I ordered the Cubano sandwich. I know, I didn't order the burger and it was one of the reasons were there! I wasn't sure if I could handle it because I was just getting over that awful stomach bug going around. My wife DID order the burger and offered half to me because it was huge! The Cuban was honestly not that good. In fact it wasn't really a great Cuban at all. However, the fries were delicious, especially with the chipotle aioli. Now, wife gave me part of her burger and boy did I make an awful mistake by not ordering that. What a delicious burger and it melted in your mouth. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned and the brioche bun SET IT OFF! Next to the Hamilton Tavern this is the SECOND best hamburger in Baltimore. Sorry Alewife, Hamilton's is still the best...every time I think about the Hamilton Tavern Burger it is like food porn in my mind...IT'S THE PLEATS I SWEAR!! Moving on... Additionally I loved the ambiance of this place; low key, dimly lit, chill crowd, big open area with high ceilings and great background music playing. The high ceilings help control the noise level I believe. If you get a chance, definitely check out the vault which is right by the restrooms, it's pretty cool...this was an old bank after all. Here are a couple pointers...yes this place gets packed so make a reservation, otherwise you will have to wait for a table. If you didn't the bar is open and serves the full menu. Check out the bottle lists, there are a lot of rare beers in there and it is a solid list. Get the F-ing hamburger; you will be happy that you did. Overall, I loved this place. I gave it 4 stars because of the Cuban sandwich not being up to par with the rest of the food. The service was outstanding and so was the beer list. I will definitely be back to get that burger again because I am still cursing myself for not getting it while I was there. Stupid ME!!
(4)Jen W.
I love the building and the space! I love that they re-purposed the building to be used as a restaurant. High ceilings, stained glass windows, dark wood and influences of neo-classical elements. You won't be able to miss the large glass window (former entrance) that marks the building's facade. That very same window became our seating location. it is the brightest spot in the restaurant and a great perch for people watching (outside and inside). Our lunch consisted of the lunch menu items including the creamy tomato soup served with a grilled cheese made with brioche. The soup was served in its own teapot and dispensed in a soup bowl at the table. Very nice touch! We both enjoyed the duck fat fries which were not really crisp, thin potato fries fried in duck fat and then dusted with sea salt and herbs. They were nice and not very greasy, it almost tasted healthy. If you order the fries separately, they come out in this huge paper cone. Plenty to share! We also ordered the shrimp po boy. It consisted of medium-sized shrimp breaded and fried then sandwiched between a roll and smeared with a spicy remoulade and shredded lettuce. Our lunch was tasty, comfort, pub food. The service was efficient and pleasant. This looks like a great place for drinks (there is a huge beer selection on tap-look at the huge chalkboard) and dinner, pre- and post-theater. I'd like to return for drinks and try a few more things off the menu which looked interesting.
(4)Vicky D.
The smoke burger is the single most delicious burger you could ever order in Baltimore. Sure, it's $15 and takes about half an hour but it is amazing and comes with duck fat fries (which are like $8 if you order them on their own anyway). The patty is always cooked to perfection, and the burger comes standard with cheese and bacon. I have tried a few other things there and they were all pretty good, but the burger is definitely the star of the show. They have a great selection of beers, too. They can be pricey, but they can also be up to 13% alcohol (that's the highest I've seen, at least).
(5)Nicole S.
I would agree with some of the other reviews- the location is ghetto across the street from the Hippodrome. I have eaten here twice and had a good experience both times. The duck fat fries and the fried artichokes were delicous. My boyfriend really likes the burgers. The wings are not spciy at all- so I wasn't a huge fan- but if spicy isn't your thing then you would probably like them. The crab cakes were also really good served with a fried green tomato. Tavern like atmosphere in an old building with historic touches. The service is about what you would expect at a place like this. They brought you what you needed in a fairly timely manner, nothing more nothing less. I would recommend this place for a casual dining experience.
(3)Thomas J.
Good food and a great selection of draft beer.
(5)James P.
Excellent collection drafts and bottles, plus the food is fantastic! The waitstaff was very helpful and knowledgeable on all the selections.
(5)Dominique F.
Came here with a few coworkers and really enjoyed the plalce. The menu offers a variety of food including a ton of burgers, a salmon sandwich, mussels etc. Plus, they have a different menu for after 10PM. What makes this place special though is the variety of beer options they have that change regularly; would definitely be back!
(4)Jodi A.
-4 stars for atmosphere, easy. Maybe even 5 stars for atmosphere. -1 star deduction for making our meal feel incredibly rushed, despite the place being relatively quiet/empty. We had drinks, appetizers and dinner for 2 and were out in less than 45 minutes
(3)J. M.
It seemed more like a bar that gave birth to a restaurant than the other way round. Once on trivia night it made for a fairly enjoyable experience but that was just drinks. The overly excitable dorky d00d who seemed to be in charge of it, provoked ambivalent feelings over his seemingly rare but frantic experience of leadership. On my second and what is likely to be my last trip, the food failed to live up the threat of quality that the reviews seem to communicate and was borderline edible. A botched burger for me, and a forgettable sandwich for my friend left us thinking that perhaps it was best to avoid lingering over half-eaten plates. Soft music masked the silence, light was bursting through the glass doors/windows and left the empty furniture bathing in complete vacancy. It brought a transient wistfulness to the whole affair. The incomplete conversation. The abandoned food. And the abrupt departure left the bar empty once again with ghosts and staff peopling its booming halls.
(4)Nate M.
Not only does Alewife have a great beer selection, but they also have some delicious food. They have a lot of beers (just like Max's) but their beer collection seems to vary less over time. Not a bad thing- they still have a huge number of choices available. The food is delicious, and you can't go wrong with anything you order (even if it might cost a bit more than you would expect). Unfortunately there isn't much else near Alewife- but that shouldn't stop you from going! You're fine walking around at night, just don't wander too far in certain directions. Also, be careful not to try to walk up the center steps to enter the building- its a trick and the real entrance is on the right side at ground level.
(4)Stephanie M.
Alewife is a great little spot near the Hippodrome and it stays open late for the night owls like me. I've walked past this place so many times thinking it was just a pub, but the food here is pretty good. I have ordered their black bean burger and veggie wrap and both are really good. My friend loves the duck fat fries. Their draught beers are pretty yummy. My waitress suggested one for me (cherry ale or something) and although I can't remember the name of it, it was delicious!
(4)Aaron W.
Great beer choices and outstanding smoke burger! The atmosphere is great and service is generally very good. The smoke burger is outstanding. They also have flight options with their beers which is very nice. Also, the smoke burger is outstanding.
(4)Chris N.
Smoke burger and a Live Free IPA. FOODGASM. A must stop In Baltimore after an O's game.
(5)Pascal P.
I tried Alewife out after they had coupon on Google deals. The food here is tasty but not really special enough to warrant the high prices. Like most people I gave their smoke burger with duck fat fries a try and it was quite good. The meat was flavorful (although not that juicy for a medium-rare burger) and the bun it came on was significantly better than average. The fries weren't very crisp though, and while they were very tasty when hot they were very greasy and became unappealing after just a few minutes of cooling down. This was a good meal, but $15 is quite a bit for a burger and in this case I don't think it was worth it. If you're looking for a bar with a lot of good beer on tap then Alewife is certainly worth visiting. Prices were a little high for Baltimore but they had a selection of drafts that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Service was prompt and friendly, and the interior of the building is cool looking. If the food were a bit cheaper I'd give Alewife four stars, but right now there's other brew pub food to be found for much lower prices.
(3)Diana J.
One and done. Too bad I did not read the other reviews before I jumped into this restaurant. The food is okay, way over priced and the owner was a bit of a grump. We waited over 20 minutes for a server who was so rushed we had no clue what the "market price" for any item was. Waited over 45 minutes for the food to arrive - cold. For a restaurant that is so close to theaters and has been around for a time, you would think they would know how to handle crowds. Since the city of BMore has been shut down for the past few weeks, one would have hoped the owner would have been more accomodating when we asked him to close the blinds as the evening sun was blinding a number of patrons. Too many other GREAT places in BMore to ever go back.
(2)Christina T.
I had really wanted to love this place. Honestly. The beer selection is on point and the fact it is a renovated bank building and has a wonderful dining atmosphere...but it is wildly inconsistent with its food. I usually settle for the Smoke Burger (which is not really living up to the hype) and the duck fat fries. At random, the fries range from burnt into oblivion, cold as hell to actually good fries. I went here on occasion when I lived closer to this part of Baltimore but once I moved to Mt Vernon (and closer to Brewer's Art), I never came back to Alewife.
(3)Kamni G.
So being new to the city and being busy prevents one from having a yelp life sometimes but I scouted out this place and took the hubby there for his bday. His sister came into town to surprise him and all was well . But things got interesting really quick once we headed to Alewife. The drive leading to this venue is reminiscent of Oakland CA....yeah I said it. Now what made it even more interesting is the food. It was totally,utterly, and impressively yummy! The mac & cheese, duck fat fries and entrees were divine. The burger that takes 30 mins was def not worth it to those in our party of 4 that had it (2 people) however all 4 are clearly craving more beer, mac and cheese and duck fat fries. The atmosphere, an old bank building, very cool and nicely decorated. It made us all want to return and soon.
(4)Lina J.
Was pretty disappointed with the food and especially the service at Alewife. We went for Saturday lunch and the place was pretty empty (there was maybe two other tables and a couple at the bar?) The sign said "Please seat yourself" but I didn't know that it also required unseating myself everytime I wanted to grab the attention of a server. We ordered the classic burger, black bean burger and fish and chips. The burgers were pretty good - especially the black bean burger. As were the duck fat fries that we ordered with the burgers. But that's where the positives end. Fish and chips were chewy and overcooked. First off, since the place wasn't even busy, I would've expected the servers to be more on top of their game. Instead, we literally waited 40 minutes for our food to come out. When it did, we asked for a side of BBQ sauce...which they didn't have. Well, what about honey mustard? Didn't seem to have that either. We had ordered duck fat fries as sides for both burgers but instead got one of them with regular fries. Since the servers decided to suddenly disappear, it took an additional 10 minutes to flag down someone (we eventually just went to the bartender, the only staff member we could see in the entire dining room). They gave us another order of fries but still...I really think it's ridiculous that we had to get up to flag someone down in such an empty room. Same treatment with the check...had to get up and flag down the bartender. What was supposed to be a quick hour lunch took twice as long because of sub-par service. I probably won't be returning anytime soon.
(2)Amber M.
Handy Dandy Yelp app comes to the rescue again!!! Loved this place. It looks as though it were an old OLD bank building. we sat in the back and I saw an old vault door. Soooo cool. Waitress was extremely friendly and helped Hubs pick out a beer. Tasty. Ordered the blackbean burger and it was good. Weird in texture but still good. Whatever you do..order the smokehouse burger. THAT was a good burger. Hubs didn't talk for a good 10 min as he chowed down and almost bit off a finger. I was able to pry it from his hands to get a bite. I see why he turned into a caveman....lol! Good job Alewife!
(4)Cherpumple F.
You need a drink? As in beer? This is the place for you with their giant list of draft beers. Tis a no frou frou, next door to the Hippodrome place great for some pre- or post-show drinkles. Food is okay--I still can't taste the duck fat in their duck fat fries. Maybe it was a duck on a diet.
(3)DjPhaze S.
Great hangout. Neighborhood pub feel. The trivia was fun! The staff is quite friendly, charming and entertaining. Very nice bar with and ample selection of liquors to craft cocktails. We had appetizers that were pretty decent. I'd go back to try the dinner menu soon since it's conveniently close to Everyman's Theater and the Hippodrome.
(3)Matthew J.
The food is either good or great. The prices are a little high though. Nice atmosphere and good service.
(4)Steve H.
Ask Gabe, a Redskins fan so obviously a good guy, for beer and food recommendations. Tell him you know a guy who was with "Steve" (not me, but someone else in my group) and you'll be in for a treat. Allagash Black, Old Rasputin, Catfish Tacos, Duck Fries, and Smoke Burger are all great choices.
(4)Ryan Z.
Alewife is one of my favorite finds in Baltimore. The atmosphere is great, and the owners did a superb job with the adaptive reuse of the old buildings that now make up this restaurant. I'm not much of a drinker, but I really enjoyed trying a couple beer samples (for free) and picking out the perfect pint with the help of a kindly waitress. What really stood out was how excellent the food was for being at a bar. We started with the truffled mac and cheese - rich and creamy with a couple of truffle shavings (nice touch!) and a 'grown-up' flavor courtesy of the truffle oil. The crab cakes were surprisingly delicious. I pushed off the corn and tomato dressing so I could focus on tasting the crab, and I was not let down. The cakes appeared to have been fried in a light beer batter which was a welcome surprise. These aren't going to be enormous jumbo lump cakes like you'd get at Faidley's or Gunning's but they were very good to say the least, and the delicate flavor of crab wasn't overwhelmed by any fillers. I had the smoke buger (without aioli), and I was not disappointed. While my burger came out medium instead of medium rare as ordered, I was very satisfied with the enormous (3/4 lb) juicy patty and applewood smoked bacon (which I might add was fried to perfection) all on slightly-charred brioche. It is definitely one of the top 10 burgers I've ever had. Downside: it was so big and so filling that I didn't have room for dessert!
(4)Ross B.
One of the best burgers in baltimore. Prepare to wait for it though cause it takes a little while. It's worth it though. Also awesome beer selection. Make sure to sample something before you order it because you can't send it back but they are more than happy to sample it. Service kinda sucks though.
(4)Thomas M.
I highly recommend this place... Beer is always fresh out of the tap and the food is amazing. If you have the pleasure of having Leila as your bartender you absolutely will not be disappointed. She is an amazing bartender!!!!
(5)Jessica D.
I'll be honest I've eaten here once a few years ago and it was ok. Decided to try again and never got past the host stand. Last night in the tornado watch and extreme downpour I was driving to make my reservation at 6 pm. White knuckled and delayed I couldn't call to alert the restaurant of my problem. I arrived 20 minutes late and soaking wet (I mean soaking wet). As I approached the host stand I was greeted by an uninviting host who said "sorry I sat your table". I asked "You're kidding me? With the weather and tornado watches you decided that I was a no show? Why didn't you call me since when I made the reservation you asked for my cell phone?" His reply was I have 30-40 no shows a night so I sat people. " Is that my problem? Maybe he should consider taking NO reservations. I'm in the service business near DC. I see patients every 20 mins. If one of them is late my staff calls and makes sure they are okay and still coming. If they arrive more than 10 mins late we let them know that we will still see them, offer them coffee, tea, water and a snack. We accommodate them. The man ( he definitely wasn't gentle) last night did nothing of the sort. He was cold, unforgiving, and completely not customer focused. I will never give the restaurant a chance because of his lack of service. The least he could have said was "I'm sorry Mrs ---- you are late for your reservation and I gave your table away. I'd be happy to have your party join our happy hour crowd and get you a table ASAP". But instead after the iced cold shoulder we went next door to Forno where we greeted with smiles and warm towels.
(1)Victoria S.
Thanks to my fellow yelpers this is my go-top spot whenever I am in Baltimore to see a show at the Hipp! I've been here a couple times now and I can honestly say I am a big fan. First of all, if you like beer. You will be in heaven. Not only do they have two pages of menu items of bottles of every type of hard cider, pale ale and pilsner imaginable they also have an extensive list of beers on draft. I try a few things every time I'm there. Of course I am always overwhelmed but the servers are normally so well informed they can walk you through the best choices. They offer to bring samples which is great, as so many choices, it's hard to pick the perfect ale! If you want a burger, you came to the right place. The Steakhouse burger is one of their specialties but NOTE: If you want it - order it IMMEDIATELY as it takes longer than anything else on the menu! Duck fat fries are divine as well as the Boar meatballs. Plenty of choices to please every palate. Some words to the wise. If you're going before a show at the Hippodrome, or on a night there IS a show. I'd definitely advise getting reservations. There is a lot of seating but best to be safe. Another tip, make sure to give yourself a lot of time. That delicious food needs time to be prepared. Go with enough time to have a few cocktails and enjoy your time there. My ONLY complaint is the noise level in the back room. High ceilings with minimal wall art makes it quite echoey - I had a hard time chatting the last time I was there. The first time I was in the main dining area and it was fine but when it fills up it gets LOUD.
(4)Harold S.
Based on the reviews, it seemed like this place is hit or miss. Tonight was beyond miss. The sign at the podium says wait to be seated, however no one is there. I wandered into the bar where no one will acknowledge your.. The finally your shouted at to sit anywhere you want. After sitting it took over 10 minutes to get a beer. Finally we just left. The tables were sticky and the menus where very soiled as well. Will not return.
(1)Marshall L.
Alewife has quickly become one of Baltimore's finest upscale bar offerings for a number of reasons. 1. The space is fantastic. They turned what used to be a bank into one of the most unique restaurants in town. Deep rich colors, high ceilings, and some of the original bank architecture all make for a fantastic atmosphere. 2. Great regular menu plus the occasional theme night. The smoke burger is worth all of the hype, but make sure to branch out no matter how much it's taunting you. The fish and chips are stellar, the salads are too. But don't get the black bean burger...all you're getting there is a mound of mushy black beans shaped into a patty (I had it today and never will again). I also really enjoy the occasional specialty menus they put together from time to time. They've done special nights with a snakehead fish theme, and they're doing a special wild game menu, with each course paired with a different New Belgium Lips of Faith beer. It's great to see a place so forward thinking with their menu. 3. A huge draught beer list. They really do cover all the bases here. Any type of lager or ale you can think of, priced to fit any budget, and anywhere from 4% to the mid teens ABV-wise. Alewife is going to have a long and storied history with Baltimore. It's going to be the kind of place that you always want to take out of town guests, and it's already established a stellar reputation in just a few short years.
(4)Trevor B.
Had a really good experience on my second time around here, which helped to partially offset the ill effects from my lackluster first attempt. I tried the smoke burger and, for the most part, it lived up to the hype. At 11 oz., this thing is pretty massive and the smoked bacon is delicious. Duck fat fries were crispy and doused in seasoning (rosemary, etc.), which was a plus for me. The burger's a bit pricey at $15 ($12 at lunch), but you definitely won't leave hungry (unless you're used to eating unhealthy amounts of food all the time...). What really did it for me this time around was the great service. Our waitress was patient and more than willing to answer questions about the food & drink items. When she brought out the wrong beer in one round, she left it for us to try anyway. It's all about the little things...
(4)Anna K.
My husband and I were out grocery shopping when he exclaimed, "I want a burger, somewhere I haven't been before." We rattled our brains and came up with Alewife. We'd heard positive things and hadn't tried it out yet. Sunday lunch? Perfect excuse. The place was largely empty (an O's game was going on and we were in for a late lunch) which was fine with me - I can see why some reviewers say this place gets loud with its high ceilings and very open space. There were four of us and we each got a flight (IPA, Belgian, Bar Choice, Local). The Bar choice flight was fun and I thoroughly enjoyed 3 of the 4 pours - all of which were unique to me. I wouldn't recommend the IPA or Belgian flight if you're looking for diverse flavors. For lunch we ordered: Smoke Burger (with duckfat fries A+) A+++ Beef Hot Dog - A/A+ Fish and Chips - A The Smoke burger and fries were the clear winner. This is a well thought out burger with great flavors. I'd recommend getting it Medium Rare if you roll that way. This place can definitely run you a little bit of money so be prepared for that. However, Alewife has got a great atmosphere, delicious food, and a varied beer selection. I highly recommend it.
(4)Christopher D.
This place was AWESOME. The atmosphere was relaxed, they had the Ravens game on all the TVs, and there was plenty of seating. Both of our servers were friendly and helpful. They knew about the food and beers and were ready with suggestions. Speaking of, FREE BEER. Well, samples. There's something around forty beers on tap alone and they're all craft beers snobs like me would love, but they are happy to bring you a sample first so you know what you're getting if you're not sure which I absolutely love. I ended up with a Bear Republic Racer X which I'd never heard of and now love because of this place. The food was divine and made even better by almost all of it having a nice, deep smoky flavor. I had the smoke burger which used REAL bacon fried there, gouda and gruyere cheese, chipotle aiole and caramelized onions. It came out massive and was savory and smoky to the last bite. It came with a side of duck fat fries with a nice coating of salt and pepper that were the perfect balance between crispy and soft. My wife, the vegetarian, had an excellent selection of meal options. Chile relleno, black bean burger, truffle mac and cheese, and a couple more. She went with the grilled cheese and tomato soup and loved it. The soup had its own smoky flavor and the cheese was thoroughly melted and came off in strings. Not being a big fan of beer she had their root beer cocktail with house made root beer liqueur that tasted just like a root beer float with a nice bite at the end. We absolutely plan to return and highly recommend anyone looking for a great meal do as well. There is something here for everyone and as far as I can tell it's all delicious.
(5)Scott C.
Ok, look, start at the review I did before and then read this thing. The team at Alewife is fun, unpretentious and really always aims to bring their best. Consistently becoming more and more busy, even without the crowd from the Hippodrome, it is proving to be the place to be on the west side of downtown. The menu has evolved a lot, with lots of changes coming for spring, and the beer selection is always wonderful. They'll pour a mean serving of Absinthe too. A hidden gem I just had last night on the menu was the Fennel Frites. Think tastier onion rings with a really tasty aioli. And they still make the best cream of crab soup ever. The mug club has heated up, with some of us just waiting on some Cantillon to show up to complete the quest. Why these guys will only brew 21 days a year makes me sad. Make friends with the staff, they are all great people and are really part of why the place is becoming such a success. It really is nice to see them putting Erik Maza in his place after his craptacular antics on the Midnight Sun Blog. Expect them to be around for a while. Pro-Tip: Make sure you know the Hippodrome schedule and call ahead for reservations. During the pre-show rush the bar area only gets a limited menu, so you'll need a table if you want all the goodness. Pro-Tip #2: If you are there on a busy night and need help navigating the beer menu, look for one of the beer geek regulars. We all love to talk about beers and are more than willing to take some burden off the bartenders (this gets everyone served faster because they don't have to walk you through the menu).
(5)Seth B.
I really wanted to love this place, based on the excellent beer selection and ambience of the building (Is this maybe an old bank building?) At the end, I liked it and will return but was not blown away. We arrived around 7 PM on a Saturday. The hostess was welcoming and found us a table within 10 minutes without a reservation. This place gets a big pre-theater crowd as it's across the street from the Hippodrome so keep that in mind when you go. The service was friendly but slow. Our server seemed to disappear for chunks of time and I needed to flag him down a few times. The draft beer selection is solid and the bottle list is one of the most impressive I've seen. They constantly rotate their bottles and have a number of rarities at any one time. The biggest letdown for me was the food. I ordered the gumbo ($18) and was unimpressed. For the price it wasn't what I was hoping for. My dining partner, however, loved her burger and duck fat fries so maybe I ordered the wrong thing. Anyway, I will return, but perhaps not on a Saturday evening and I will order something else to eat.
(3)Valarie G.
I came here for a beer dinner before the hurricane. I enjoyed the atmosphere greatly and the service was friendly. It is a great location. I must come back and try it out when it is not a special event, but I was very impressed.
(4)Anneke M.
Great atmosphere, in an old converted bank building near the Hippodrome. Red painted walls give the place a bold but comfortable vibe. Two huge blackboards house the place's ever-changing beer list, with something for pretty much any beer palate. The bartenders are all very knowledgeable and were totally willing to spend a minute or two helping me choose, even when they were a little bit busy. If you are planning on getting dinner (and you aren't going to the Hippodrome after), waiting until 8 means a much calmer dining room and more attention from the staff . If you don't mind the noise level that comes with a packed house, then of course go before 8. I've eaten there on two separate occasions. The first time, I had the smoke burger and the duck fat fries. Both were fantastic. The burger took a little while to come out, but they warn you of that in the menu so I can't complain about that. The second time I went, I had the smoked tomato soup and the fennel frites. The soup was fantastic, the perfect mix of smoky richness mixed with the tangy tomato. The fennel frites I wasn't as crazy about, they had an odd texture that didn't jive well with me. My friends had the airliner chicken plate which they raved about, and the alewife salad which got good reviews.
(4)Erin C.
Love the interior--cool historical reuse. Good beer list! Are you vegetarian? Look! Awesome! There are things on the menu for you! Unfortunately, they don't taste that great. Serviceable, sure. But otherwise, no reason to come back unless you're just in the mood for some beer. (We got the Tomato Soup/Grilled Cheese and Black Bean Burger before seeing a show at The Hippodrome).
(2)Chris S.
If you come to the Inner Harbor, this is a must stop. Great food and beer. It's a good stop before and after the O's games since its a block away from Camden Yards.
(5)Amy W.
**Update again** Went back on another outing...definitely try the Brussel sprout appetizer!!! Delicious... Been at least 5 times now And while the first time I would have given them 4 stars, the last 2 times, I have been inclined to give them lower ratings. Here's my overall impression: The beer selection is outstanding. And for the most part, their staff is highly knowledgeable about the beer - which if you are going to have that many draft beers, you better be able to answer questions and offer tastings - which they can and do. So if you want a nice spot to try some interesting beer, then this is a great place for that. The first time we went, the couple we went with had hyped up the burger so much that I didn't even look at the menu - I just ordered the Smoke Burger. Which was very good - the apple-wood smoke bacon gives it a really nice flavor. And the blend of Gouda and Gruyere cheeses are very good also. The beef itself makes a very good burger. Overall a very good burger (certainly not the BEST burger in town - but a solid A-). And the duck fat fries are some of the best in town (Salt has some of THE best - but these are a pretty close 2nd.) They took the quesadilla off the menu because peaches are out of season - why not offer a fall/winter version with some other option? Curious. I was looking forward to trying them. Their Alewife salad is delicious. A lot of really great flavor. I tried it with the grilled chicken (which was grilled chicken - meh). But the salad itself was very good. The asparagus was a nice touch and different addition to this type of salad. I didn't want anything heavy since we were going to theatre. The dressing was nice. So here is my one HUGE GRIPE: no dessert? COME ON??? I don't care if the chef doesn't "DO" desserts. Pick up the phone and outsource dude! There are a ton of great local places that you could get desserts from. No offense but that the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me after my last outing there. And the fact that you put a hot chocolate on your menu and thought you could pass it off as dessert just infuriated me more because you don't offer a non-alcoholic version and I couldn't have alcohol! COME ON!!!!!! You offer some pretty cool things on your menu, offering a cool cookie plate, some interesting donuts with a chocolate pudding or a creme brulee would not be a stretch! I was really disappointed because I wanted to cap my meal off with something sweet and couldn't. So I'll stop griping about it, but I doubt I will go back until they fix this. I enjoy dessert when I go out to eat, and this truly bugs me. Lastly, the staff on all three outings has been awesome. Every time we have always had very attentive staff - always offering samples, and the food has always come in a fairly reasonable timeframe in my opinion. Good pace to the meal. Enjoy!
(4)Chris K.
Would have given a 4 but the staff had no energy. Not ridiculous slow but slower than what I'm use to. Food was really good, I recommend the grilled cheese and tomato soup. BTW I went on a Sunday maybe that had something to do with it.
(3)Rick B.
Great foodie food, awesome beers for aficionado's, and hip atmosphere.
(4)Amanda H.
This is a great place to eat before the theater, just make sure and make reservations. The atmosphere was fun and the staff very friendly and efficient. The food was great! I had the fried chicken and my husband had the burger and we were both very happy with our choices..
(4)Kara W.
Made a last minute reservation via OpenTable for 8:15pm on a Friday night. Though, I don't really understand the point of making a reservation to sit in an area which could easily be considered the bar- very noisy and cramped. The distinction between bar and restaurant can become muddled so easily. But, I've read so many reviews about the burgers here that I had to get one,so I pressed on. Plus, 95% of the diners were enjoying burgers, so things looked promising. Boy, am I glad that I did (sort of). It was well-seasoned and very succulent. The menu description reads: "an 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, served with Duck Fat Fries." And, that's pretty accurate. The fries are shoestring-style so they get cold quickly. But, I was so engrossed with my burger that it didn't bother me. I washed it down with a glass of Allagash White- ordered at the recommendation of our server because they were our of Zombie Killer. I was not disappointed. The lightness and crispiness of the beer complemented the burger well. It took all of my strength to eat only half the burger in an attempt to save room for dessert (and maybe another beer). So, you can imagine my dismay when the server slapped the check down on the table without offering either. Good to know that someone is watching my waistline when I obviously am not.
(3)C D.
This place has good beer. The food was slightly above average. The service sucked!
(2)Dave F.
Eaten (and drank) here numerous times. Nice beer selection, and the lunch selections are really good. Loved the hot dog, and the duck fat fries were good too.
(5)Johnny Q.
Cool looking old school type place. Used to be an old bank that was made into a speak easy. Over 40 beer selections on tap to choose from. Drinks were strong and made very professionally. Had the Potomac Catfish Tacos which did the trick. Not too filling though but tasty. I would recommend the Smokehouse Burger if you want a heavier meal. Not in the best of neighborhoods so it gets pretty sketchy around there but I guess thats just Baltimore
(5)David W.
Good food, but service seems to be an afterthought (or they are understaffed). There should be no reason at 6:00 on a Saturday afternoon to have to wait for anything. The thai wings were decent, but the brussel sprouts needed more seasoning. My fish tacos were good. The beer list is a bit overwhelming, but since the waiter was doing something else, I had time to pick something, and I enjoyed my pick. Might go back, it is too convenient to the Hippodrome to ignore it completely.
(3)Demetrios G.
I went here before the Poe seance event a couple months ago. The beer and location were great. There's an old bank vault in the back so make sure you go to the bathroom. The food was decent but nothing to write home about. I had the smoke burger which had a good taste but somehow left me unsatisfied. Maybe I'm just to used to the smashburger I make on the cast iron at home. That being said the tap list will keep me coming back and I will give the food another try.
(3)Ali P.
Landed here on my first night in Baltimore after a quick search for a place with a fantastic draught beer selection, a better than average late night menu, and a TV with the finals on. I'm pleasantly surprised to report that I found exactly that, and more.... I walk in, The Black Keys are playing in the background, the game is on, and I find a wall of beers on tap, including some local favorites of mine from home. Lagunitas, Stone, Green Flash, you name it, all of California's best craft beer made an appearance on their menu. However, opting for something I didn't see regularly at home, I ordered a Victory IPA and was pleased. The late night menu really reminded me of beer bars in the city (SF) and had a great selection of gastronomical delights. I ended up ordering from the Late Night menu the Tempura Fennel Frites and the Smoked Tomato Soup. Both were fantastic and WAY more than I could have asked for at 11:30pm on a Tuesday night. Funny, the user below said her drive to this place reminded her of Oakland, and those were my thoughts exactly. Except I WALKED... therefore feeling a bit sketched out for the walk home. Luckily, and completely unexpectedly the bartender and bar back where the sweetest people ever and felt my palpable sketched-outness. The bar back drove me home and I could not have been more thankful. From an ambiance, customer service, food, and libations standpoint, I would highly recommend this spot to locals and visitors alike.
(5)Mike L.
When you approach Alewife, you really don't know what to expect. It's close to Camden Yards, so it's exceedingly convenient if you're looking for a place to slam a few beers after an O's game, not much of a walk at all. Finally approaching the joint, it almost doesn't seem like a restaurant that serves as many beers as it does. The appearance itself from the outside makes me immediately think of a lounge type of environment, that all changes once you go inside. Once you enter Alewife, you go up some steps and seat yourself. At that point, you help yourself to a menu or ask for one and peruse their catalog of extensive beer. Aside from the fairly enormous beer selection (Monterey Area residents reading this review, think of a less contemporary CRBC), I had heard that they had amazing food, of course I had to try it. I ended up ordering their famous Smoke Burger (which wasn't worth $15 but whatever) with Duck Fat Fries (amazing) and a glass of Allegash Blonde, which initially excited me because the only Allegash Beer I ever had was Allegash White, which is already scarce enough as it is. They also had a stout version of this called Allegash Black which looked just as intriguing. If you're a beer connosieur, definitely give Alewife a chance. Coming from the West Coast, it blew my mind to see beers that I have only heard about all at my disposal. I'm going to have a good ol' time the next time I'm in Baltimore!
(4)Oscar S.
Food was good, the place is pretty cool the service is awful. There seemed to be one waitress for the entire place.
(2)Jessica D.
Great food and beer choices. Had the popular burger. Tasty and filling. Enjoyed the atmosphere. It was a Friday night and they were busy due to a show. Dining room was packed and there was two spaces left at the bar. We grabbed it and then bar was packed too. Standing room only. Perfect timing for us to be able to sit and eat. Great start to our stay in Baltimore.
(4)Maria L.
This was my first trip to Ale Wife and I was enthusiastic to go because I heard good stuff about their fish tacos. The place definitely has a unique look to it: there is large abstract art all over the walls, a giant wall dedicated to a chalk-written list of beers they have, there is a wall-length window which has outer shutters that open to allow a full view out onto the street, the tables are a nice dark wood, the water is served in glass jars, and the coolest part is a second floor balcony with two tables that overlooks the main dining area. The real issue came with the service and the food. Our waitress, a tall blonde named Alicia, was lifeless and bordering rude in her disinterest with our party. We ordered when there were only three tables seated and while our appetizer came out in decent time, we waited 42 minutes for fish tacos (fish..not steak or big ole' burgers). When they did come out they were cold; in a neutral tone I told her they were cold and she thought the best reply was "well the fish doesn't normally come out piping hot". Well. She told her manager on her own accord and they did remove one order of it. I decided I'd take the 2 of 3 home and pop them in the oven later, and they do have these neat black-carton to-go boxes. I wouldn't go back here to eat. The bar?--maybe.
(2)Mike M.
Burger was excellent. Fish tacos were good but served a little cold. Great beer selection but not the cheapest place.
(4)Melissa R.
DISCLAIMER: This review is coming from a preggo who could not enjoy their main attraction (BEER!) and is purely based on the food. Came her twice on my recent trip to Baltimore. First time around I had the tomato soup with grilled cheese. The grilled cheese was a little smaller than expected, but otherwise the meal was solid. Nothing to elaborate on. The big suprise was that they had ginger beer, huge kudos! Second time was for carryout. Their carryout containers were bigger than the bag to carry them in, so they were put in sideways. The crabcakes did not survive the trip back to the hotel. Likely they would have been much better if I ate them @ Alewife. Can't recommend this place on food alone, but the atosphere was chill and their beer selection was superb (accompanied by a very knowledgeable bartender.). Will have to give this place a 2nd try once I pop.
(3)Colleen R.
It is a great place to go if you enjoy beer. The menu, however is extremely limited (it IS a pub), unremarkable and very expensive. My companions loved the huge burgers. My fish tacos were cold and drippy. The pub used to be a bank in an early life. The atmosphere is loud and boisterous but we were lucky to be placed in an old vault. We we extremely disappointed to learn that not only do they not recognize birthdays (we were celebrating two) but they charge $25 if you bring in your own birthday cake. We spent close to $200 for five people and had to go elsewhere to enjoy our cake.
(2)Molly S.
My roommate and I were searching for a specific kind of beer, and our search led us to finding Lucy's Irish Pub, which is the bar that used to occupy the stunning old bank building that is now Alewife. It is located conveniently near the Lexington Market Light Rail stop, and within a few blocks of a Metro stop, which means that even if you don't have a car, you can easily access this amazing spot. The building from the outside is stunning; its pristine white exterior sets it apart from the other buildings on the block, so we had no trouble at all finding it. The interior doesn't disappoint, either; the walls are a warm burgundy and all the wood, on the tables and bar, is rich and dark. The high ceiling is reminiscent of the building's original origins, paneled with the same dark wood that composes the rest of the building's trimmings. The list of 40 beers on draft is mindblowing; the selection is truly amazing. You truly would have to be a boring human being to come here and order a Bud Light or a Natty Boh. In addition to being an amazing assortment of delicious craft beers, the list is updated every few days, so it will never be quite the same. The cocktail and wine lists are also extremely impressive; I will definitely be sampling from them next time I come back (which might be as soon as tonight). The bartenders were friendly and extremely helpful, and the music playing was the perfect playlist for some late night beers with good friends. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys delicious beer, great service and good music in a friendly, intimate atmosphere.
(5)Erin L.
I have to amend my previous review and knock Alewife down a few notches with regard to customer service. I arrived to Alewife at 430 on a Friday requesting a table of 3 for myself, my brother and SIL. I was declined. The hostess informed me that they were completely booked. I looked around the empty dining room, finding it hard to believe that they didn't have room for just three more people. She claimed there was a private party coming in, and since there was a show at the theater, they couldn't take anyone else. Since I was the only person waiting in the front, I politely asked her to please just check and see if there was any way she could make an exception. It really seemed absurd to be turned away from a place that wasn't even crowded. The hostess huffed and puffed at the podium for a minute or two before saying that there was absolutely no way. I find it hard to believe that there was no room to squeeze a measly three top in. She even chastised me for not having reservations. I didn't think I needed a reso at 430 in the afternoon, and by the emptiness of the restaurant, you'd think the servers might have wanted the extra money. Clearly Alewife doesn't need the extra money, since they were so quick to turn away paying customers and refer us to Frank & Nic's, down the street. (For the record, F&N was amazing alternative.) When I worked in the restaurant biz, customers were everything, and unless the dining room was full, we could always find someone willing to wait on an extra 3-top. Or, they should have put a sign up that said "Closed for Private Party." Just saying..... Alewife, get off your high horse. Your food is good, but arrogance can really ruin a good thing. I live just down the street, but I will not be returning. I'd rather patronize places who want my business.
(2)Jo D.
Delicious food and great atmosphere! i went before a performance at Everyman Theatre and really enjoyed one of the burgers! Lots of beers and people of all ages and styles. Only downside is that it is a bit loud-it is in interesting, older building so the acoustics are not great.
(5)Jannelle A.
Occasion: Casual dinner with a friend What I had: Smokehouse burger, fries, and a few house brews Food Review: The smokehouse burger was ridiculously delicious! Interesting pairing of ingredients and flavors, but admittedly it was on the greasy side. It will definitely satisfy your carb/fat intake for a few days, but you'll be too busy devouring your smokehouse to think about that until it's too late... The fries were also delicious, but they came out warm and were cold within 5 minutes. The beer selection is good. Service Review: It was decent. I went for dinner on a Thursday night @7pm, and the place was packed. We elected to sit at the bar because we didn't have time to wait the estimated 40 mins for another table to open up. The time in which the food came out was acceptable, however, I had to flag down the bartender a few times to get her attention. Venue Review: The interior of this building is unique, but the neighborhood can be pretty dicey at night. Be careful. Close proximity to Lexington Market. (If you're from Bmore, you know to stay away at night...) Take-Home Point: The burger is glorious, but the price point is a bit high for what you get. I've been to much fancier restaurants, no less in cities like LA and NYC, that offer similar burgers for less $$.
(3)Kyla C.
Never been to Baltimore before so my only restaurant experience there was a good one. This place has a pretty cool vibe but the surrounding area is kind of dead, besides the theatre across the street. I ordered the burger with duck fat fries and it was delicious! The patty was substantial and it was super filling. The fries were awesome. The beer list was awesome as well. I tried three different drafts and there were all tasty. I would come back for the beer alone.
(4)Rachel C.
The smoke burger really was amazing. I would come here again for the burger alone and for the vast beer selection, all reasonably priced. The mussels are okay, a little pricey for what they are, though they do come with the duck fat fries. A little red flag here: we assumed the mussels were happy hour price, as were our beers (referencing an online happy hour menu Alewife advertises). This was not the case. Only Heavy Seas products were, though our bartender failed to tell us this until we asked. Other than this little glitch, the service was excellent! Wonderful bartenders and super attentive. Can't speak on behalf of the wait staff but sitting at the bar and sampling beers is most likely the better option regardless.
(3)Beau C.
Great beer selection and a really cool building. Just beware: our lunch took forever! We were at a conference downtown and had an hour break. We did not make it. Really enjoyed the food: I had fish tacos which were yummy--good mix of flavors and textures. I was jealous though of the folks at the table who got burgers...they looked amazing. If you have time to kill, drop in and eat.
(4)Jan T.
Looking for an option for a good, somewhat reasonable priced dinner prior to the Anthony Bourdain event at the Hippodrome, the benevolent algorithm of Yelp pointed me toward this "upscale dining" tavern located right across the street from the show. Seeing the good reviews, and the very nice menu, I made reservations for 6:15, hoping to have a relaxed dinner prior to the 8pm start of the show. Good thing I did. We arrived at 6 pm, a bit early, but were seated immediately. The menu was placed in front of us, and someone brought us water. 10 minutes later we could finally order our drinks, when the waiter came around, took the drinks order, then walked away, not to be seen again for another 10 minutes. At that point came the first odd question of the night, to two people at a table with open menus "Oh, you want to order food too?". Why yes, yes, that is the intention. He takes our order of two smoke burgers and a starter of wild boar meatballs, then leaves. It is now 6:20. 6:40. Drinks arrive, the older couple at the table two down from us (who were there before us) finally gets to order their dinner, after the man stood up and has his first of 3 chats with the manager about the service. The server apologizes because "the bar is so busy tonight, it's unusual". Well, it is a theatre night, and your restaurant does bill itself as a "theatre restaurant" on the website, so there is that. 7:15. Our appetizers finally make it out. It's 4 meatballs, decent size, with some chili-limi sauced carrots and daikon. Tasty, but luke-warm due to sitting on the hot plate until they had all the orders together for the various (now about 6) semi-annoyed parties sitting in the smaller dining room and all those sitting in the main dining area. 7:30 - half an hour to show time. I intended to be on my way to the show now, so I pull the server over and rather forcefully tell him that we need our dinner soon since we have show tickets. Everyone else does the same. 7:35. Dinner is delivered to the table next to us, which walked in at 7:10, so I am about to go full Gordon Ramsey. My girlfriend smiles, and I keep just calm enough to spare the server and manager some choice words. 7:40. Dinner finally arrives. The smoke burger is delicious and comes with duckfat fries, which are also good. I ask for the check while we are eating, which pisses me off, but pales compared to the fact that we are now forced to have a good $15 burger and fries in the same time frame that one would take to have a $1 burger from a fast food joint. The server tries to redeem himself by offering us a free round of drinks, for which it is now much too late. 7:50. We have paid (he left the first round of drinks on the check but I did not have time to complain about that), we are leaving this restaurant. Fortunately half the remaining audience made the same choice, so Bourdain starts 10 minutes late. In summation, this is a Fells Point bar in a non-Fells Point setting with decent food but service that goes beyond utterly incompetent, especially when they get busy. 2 stars are given for food, .1 stars for the server's ironic attempt to redeem himself and his establishment. I will not be returning, nor ever recommend this restaurant to others.
(2)Ashley A.
Worst service I've ever had. The wench bartender was more concerned about drinking with her friends then servicing customers.
(1)Kyle C.
My experience at Alewife was amazing. I went with my girlfriend and several of her friends. A few of us got there before the rest of the group and we were greeted outside by the hostess, she seemed to be on her smoke break but was incredibly hospitable and stopped to take us inside and had us quickly seated before the time our reservation for 8:15pm was set for (mind you the reservation was for 11 people). At most places I would've expected the employee to just pass us off to someone inside but I was pleasantly surprised she sat us herself...definite plus. The atmosphere inside was really relaxed and the waitress we had was fantastic. She gave us a good rundown on a few beers that were suggested as well as some food choices. I've seen other reviews on here complaining about the timing of food/drinks coming out and we didn't have anything like that during our time here. Like I said before, the waitress was serving 11 people and the drinks came out incredibly fast as did the food. She stopped by frequently enough to make sure we were always well taken care of and it was much appreciated by all of us. Now comes the food, it was absolutely as delicious as advertised. I had the smoke burger that came with a side of duck fries. It was everything I could have imagined and more. Everything was perfectly cooked and put together, and several of the people at the table who ordered the same were raving about it. If you want a relaxed, laid back lunch or dinner with great service, nice atmosphere and everything in between, come to Alewife.
(5)Geoffrey C.
Alewife, oh how I stumbled upon thee. I was hungry after a concert at the arena and were looking for options to eat. Place was recommended on Yelp and I decided to go on a whim. Wasn't feeling American gastropub food, but really had no choice. Glad I went! In short, the smoke burger is succulent; the best burger I've ever had. Words can not describe how juicy and tasty it was. If you can imagine having sex with a burger, that was what I experienced. The melange of meat and soft cheeses makes for a delectable affair. I usually like my burgers pink on the inside and it was just right at medium. The duck fat fries, albeit unhealthy, were equally tasty. The soup was good as was their take on a chopped salad. Drink selection was top notch, but I couldn't care less. Service was great too. The smoke burger is the main event here fellas. Blended choice meat with gruyere and smoked gouda topped with a garlic aioli brioche bun!
(5)John J.
Great beer selection..unfortunately I ordered the moules frites. My short lived experience with this order, out of the first 5 mussels 2 weren't even de-bearded, and the other 3 were cooked even though they were obviously dead. The bar staff wasn't concerned about this information , they simply told me no one else complained. Until they're sick tonight!
(2)Danielle W.
This is our default post-play at Hippodrome stop. The decoration is artsy-contemporary-cool. I especially love the large paintings on the walls. Awesome beer selection - I think like 40 on tap and the food we've had has all been pretty impressive. I'm especially partial to the duck fat fries and the caprese salad starters. We'll be back and continue working our way though the menu!
(4)Jesus O.
The "Smoke Burger" is absolutely delicious. The atmosphere is a bit Hipster which I don't particularly enjoy. Beer selection is pretty decent.
(4)Tom N.
Alewife is a solid 4-stars for me. While they do offer a terrific and large craft beer list along with some pretty eclectic and tasty food dishes, the setting is not the coolest and the prices are usually pretty high. Overall, I come back here frequently (I live practically next door) but it's not one of my first choices.
(4)Ethan L.
Located not too far from the Lexington Market subway station Alewife is a place easy to miss. Entering though you are in a giant large ceiling building that has been redecorated and screaming new gentrified fashion, while still remaining old world charm. The patronage is diverse, and the place was very busy for a Tuesday night when I visited. Aside from one foul mouth racist drunk in the corner trying to stir things up (who didn't last long), everything here is quite comfortable and pleasant. The building and crowd reminds me a lot of the nice places I frequent to drink in DC, although the clientel in Baltimore is classic locals who are different from their nearby DC counterparts. Service is ok, some minor attitude but nothing you can't really fault. Beer selection here is a step up and also contains lots of good glassware to go with it. Didn't get to try all the food, but the fries in duck fat never fail, and the burger is rich if perhaps a little too rare but no major complaints. I really like the atmosphere of this place the most, it really feels and gives me an idea of what the residents of Baltimore look like and what their city has to offer, and the building is real nice inside. I will always keep this place on my radar when visiting Charm City.
(4)Jon W.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect, though I have to say it was the menu that won me over. So my wife and I went there with high expectations, based on both the menu and the number of stars in it's yelp rating. What we got was a very uneven experience. I read several reviews praising the Smoke Burger, so I ordered that. On the whole I wasn't disappointed, though the caramelized cipollini onion wasn't really caramelized, though rather delicious all the same. The burger came as requested, Medium Well, and I have to commend them for it is one of the best burgers I've ever enjoyed. The applewood smoked bacon, however was exceedingly undercooked and was therefore removed from my plate as i find very undercooked bacon, a very unpleasant experience. The calamari, though overcooked, was tasty and enjoyable. when i first looked at it i was afraid that it was going to be excessively battered but the batter was actually pleasant and not overbearing. The wait staff is pleasant and friendly. The Mac and Cheese, frankly was a bit of a disappointment. It's basically a clean dish smothered in La Tourangelle Infused White Truffle Oil. Which is remarkably easy to overuse in any dish. It had lots of promise but simply did not deliver. Neither was my wife was not impressed with the blue catfish tacos, she found them a bit "insipid". Both of us thoroughly enjoyed the burger with duck fat fried potatoes and we would both return for the burger and the calamari. Provided that the bacon is properly cooked next time. 3 stars - only for the Smoke burger, which was the highlight of the meal.
(3)Gene L.
This gets a 4 only because I haven't tried everything yet. We came here as a last stop for the night, so I haven't had the chance, or fortune, of trying the smoke burger. All the food we had from soups to fries were delicious. The service was great and good drink selection.
(4)Katherine S.
We came in here for brunch this past weekend. There was noone else there so we had the place to ourselves. That said, we waited what seemed like an odd amount of time for our food. Maybe ours was the first order of the day, but we waited 40 minutes or so for our burgers. I had the smoke burger, which was great, but I don't know that it was a $15 burger. I also wasn't that impressed with how small the brunch menu was. All in all, this place was pretty unobjectionable, but I think the food is pretty overpriced, which would stop me coming back.
(4)Jenn H.
So. This place is awesome! The service is on point. Every time I have been, the service is always über friendly, prompt, and attentive. The atmosphere: very sports bar scene but the most bestest part about this bar is the fact that they do not serve you up what I would consider, your typically prepared bar food. It has a gourmet flair and it is YUMMY! I mean the burger (with munster cheese, I think) was delish, the duck fat French fries were/always are so yummy :) Mmmm! Every time I go I HAVE to have them. Even my mom loves them and she doesn't even really do fries. But she eats mine every time :) The calamari was really good too. I got the salad which was prepared well. Very tasty. No complaints. And the crab cakes were good! Like really good! The mixed drinks were good too. They make a mean dirty martini. And the assortment of beers is just too much....in a good way of course. They have this huge chalk board on the wall with all the beers they have during that season. Bomb! And they are on draft! Bomb! Gotta love that. Outside of that, they have a pretty sweet beer menu that is just to die for. If you appreciate beer, you'll love this place. If you appreciate food, see comment above :) And if you love a live atmosphere for young professionals and sports fans alike, refer to above comment. I am a return customer and I recommend this place to friends :)
(5)Meredith J.
I'll let you read previous posts about the burgers, but they really are delicious! So, I'll focus on the bar. The area where Alewife is located isn't too bad but if you are planning on leaving and walking to bars, have a few in mind. I really like how the bar and restaurant is set-up. It's very open and there is more space then you'd expect. The beer selection is really good and reasonably priced. Also, it never seems to be too crowded, so getting a beer isn't a huge problem.
(5)Kelly G.
This place is a great find in an area that is seriously lacking in nice restaurants. It's sometimes difficult to navigate whether you need to wait for a hostess to seat you or seat yourself - I always end up just seating myself on the first floor. The beer selection is wonderful, very extensive and something for everyone and the food is pretty good as well (the fish tacos were good, but very very messy!) It gets very crowded during games with only a few flat screens near the bar area.
(4)Sam N.
Tons of drafts being offered, duck fat fries, cool takes on burgers, did I mentioned duck fat fries?!?! The decor isn't something to write home about, but the large beer selections and the crowds it attracts can be exciting when the Orioles are playing!
(4)Ruth C.
3 star grub sampling, 4 star bar; reminds me of a mini-Brickskeller. $10 credit card minimum is easy to break. Managed to find street parking right outside. Pretty space that has an interesting mix of industrial chic and Prohibition-hijacked church. Our fellow bar patrons were riveted to the soccer match on-screen, and a few white-collar drones chatted over a power lunch by the door. Thanks to Joey for being such a patient and friendly bartender as Mike and I pored over the menus. Good selection of Allagash and Dogfish brews, with a healthy dash of Flying Dog, Stone, Troegs, Victory, and Heavy Seas. I finally settled on an Allagash Black for lack of a Justin C in my pocket. As tempting as the The Baltimore cocktail looked, it sadly felt a bit early in the day for me to be knocking back anything with gin in it. Unfortunately, most of the menu that I had ogled in passing turned out to be for dinner only. Sorry Snorlax, no seared crab cakes, chorizo mussels, smoked tomato & goat cheese flan, blue catfish tacos, airliner chicken breast, or grilled skirt steak. Not even a side of tempura fennel frites to be had at midday. So we split an Alewife salad and each got a smoke burger. Salad was chock full of goodies, dressed just enough to keep the blue cheese from dominating. Burgers were cooked to order with juicy, flavorful patties. I forwent the steak knife and let the delicious grease drip down my arm. Bacon was reasonably crisp, and the gouda and gruyere played nicely with the cipollinis. We did a side-by-side comparison of the kettle chips versus the herbed duck fat fries, and for overall balance the chips won. I was ambivalent about the chipotle aioli. The fries were certainly tasty, but added impending food coma to an already heavy dish. I'm glad I boxed up my leftovers because it made for great drunk food later that night. I'll be back for dinner.
(4)Emily P.
I like their smoke burger, but it wasn't out of this world for me as it was for many others who have commented about it on yelp. However, I LOVE their Blue Catfish Tacos, duck fat fries with aioli, and some of their recently added items to menu: duck confit poutine and truffled mac&cheese (you MUST try these new items!). I would come back time and time again for these dishes. Many of their desserts are delicious as well. I've tried their thai peanut wings, Kobe Beef Hot Dog, cubano, smoked tomato soup and pressed cuban bread...all of which were okay. I would probably end up not ordering these items again.
(4)Tony P.
A solidly average gastropub. I stopped here on an early evening so there was no crowd at all. The service was attentive at the bar. The beer list has a good assortment of craft brews and belgians. I settled on two selections from Stone. Their Levitation and Smoke Porter. The buffalo soup with blue cheese crumble and crostini was interesting and flavorful. It had the flavor characteristics of buffalo wings; spicy, tangy, savory. The signature smoke burger was ordinary and over cooked. I asked for medium rare and received well-done. The smoky flavor was there, but it was hard to discern the gouda or gruyere cheeses or even the applewood bacon. My duck fat fries were crispy but bland. No herbal flavors, no savory indications. Overall, a decent spot for a local happy hour gathering if you're nearby.
(3)Priscilla A.
Doesnt look like a restaurant stop. Looks like a church... none the less the host was very friendly and the waitress was great. I order the chicken sandwich and the soup of the day * Potato Soup. Delicious!! -Fries had a great taste. Hint of smokiness to them if that even makes sense. The theme was great. It was a dim atmosphere with concentration on beer. Good hangout spot and just a place to relax a let loose.
(4)Candace M.
Atmosphere check. Beer selection check. Food check. VEGAN food options at a pub? Done and done. I went on yelp to find a place that was near the convention center that had good food and a good vibe and ended up here. We got two seats at the bar, loved the menu and everything about this place, esp the beer selection, whiskey selection, and diversity of menu items. It's not often you can feed the vegan and the carnivore together at the pub. The bartender made a small mistake in my order but made up for it by giving me a discount- I was pretty happy with accidentally getting the vegan ragout instead of quinoa tabbouleh anyways! Avoid the hop Betty cocktail, I thought it would be cool but you would be better off with a greyhound instead.
(5)Kristina R.
Went here before a show at the Hippodrome. You definitely want to make reservations if there is a show that night. It is one of the only nicer restaurants within walking distance of the Hippodrome. I had the smoke burger and it was fabulous. It was HUGE! There was a very good selection of draught beers and also a decent wine list. I would definitely go there for dinner if seeing a show again at the Hippodrome.
(4)Frances L.
My first night in Baltimore was spent catching up with an old friend. Since we were staying near Mt. Vernon, we decided to walk over to Alewife, which was only a few blocks away. It was about 10p.m and the man at the front desk of our hotel had warned us that it wasn't really safe for two ladies to walk around in this area, but being stubborn gals from LA, we felt like we were tough enough for the job. And we were! While there were a few shady characters on the way to this gastropub, once we walked inside, it was bustling and lively! This beautiful building with super high ceilings was decked out in tons of dark reclaimed woods and really played off of using the space's original architecture. Much larger than I had anticipated, Alewife not only felt cozy, but it also had a good neighborhood vibe. I was impressed with their extensive tap and bottle selections. Craft beer heaven reaching from one end of the country to the other. Seeing as though we don't really see many Dogfish Head beers on tap in California, I opted for the My Antonia which was a great choice to go with my delicious Cubano sandwich. Tender pork belly, ham, and cheese toasted perfectly and served with a bed of spinach greens. A nice little late-night bite, at good prices, too. Service was friendly and overall, I enjoyed this place thoroughly. I'll definitely be back to try their smoke burger whenever I am in Baltimore next.
(4)Sean O.
Vegan? Kosher? Gluten free? This place is good for none of those! Their burgers are AMAZING! Also, you need to get the beer sampler trays, especially if you want to loosen up while there. They don't serve any mainstream beers here so loosen up and have a hearty beer for once you wuss.
(4)Joseph L.
Not a big fan. Just didn't live up to the expectations. The menu was very simple and very much over priced. The building was cool but too bad the food wasn't. We actually only eat half of what we order and went somewhere else to finish dinner. If you like to spend a lot money on half assed meals then this is the place for you.
(2)Ben B.
Been here a few times for casual drinks. Great beer selection. Ate here for the first time today and it was underwhelming. I have heard great things about the burgers but I decided to go with The Bucket. Judging by the name, I though the portion of potatoes, corn, chorizo, shrimp and mussels would have left me stuffed, but I found my stomach still growling after devouring the $20+ entrée. The whole dish maybe had 2 pieces of chorizo in total. Service was also mediocre. Had to raise my hand - felt like a grade schooler - to get the waiters attention for another menu, drink order, water refill, and the check.
(3)Matt R.
I'm always a fan of Alewife's food. I've introduced many a friend to this establishment for the sole purpose of trying their premier dish, the Smoke Burger. Paired with duck fat fries, the food's hard to beat for Baltimore's city center. The cocktails are always creative and the draft list is an impressive, mammoth chalkboard scaling the wall. Now if it were only a few bucks cheaper... The place has a great ambiance and a good "dark" feel. Definitely a good investment on a historical property. Beware nights where the Hippodrome or Everyman are having a large showing. Sometimes Alewife just can't support non-reservation folks or discourages people with hour-plus long waits. Plan your evenings wisely and you won't be disappointed. I do wish Alewife would make better use of its upstairs seating during rushes. They just don't use it frequently enough to accommodate the crowds. The one thing that kills this place from being five stars in my book is the inconsistent service. Some nights it's amazing and some nights it's horrific. On great nights, the staff is upbeat, the food is cooked to perfection, and you leave with a smile on your face. On the bad nights, your food will be either undercooked (and raw) or burned, the staff inattentive, the drinks slow or just plain wrong, and the check forever-waiting in making its appearance. This seems to happen more when it's slow, which I find really puzzling.
(4)Paul S.
Great selection of beers as some have suggested? They don't even have Guiness. Order the mussels and you'll get a bowl of french fries with a couple of lame mussels on the bottom and lots of grease. The disappointments just keep coming. The most laughable part is there was a line to get in.
(1)Devonshire B.
Excellent and knowledgeable staff, amazing food (burger had a beautiful smokey flavour), great atmosphere, big big big area, HUGE selection of alcohol!, and decently priced. Why in the world would you NOT want to try this place out?
(4)Joseph C.
My fiancee' took me to Alewife and I was in heaven. The beer selection is quite impressive & the bartenders were quite knowledgable and able to make suggestions.
(4)Diana H.
They have a great beer menu and make a pretty stiff cocktail, for this alone I would have given it four stars. But unfortunately we had a lot of problems at Alewife. First the bartender kept trying to rip us off, we ordered their smokey burger since everyone raves about it and we order just the burger no fries etc. The plate comes with fries, we do not notice, we eat the burger it was cooked medium well when we asked for medium rare however we let it go because we did not have time to return it and ask for a properly cooked burger. The bill comes. A.) We were not charged happy hour prices and when I brought it up to her she is like, oh right I forgot it was happy hour (Yeah right) B.) She charges us with the fries we did not order nor eat and not only did she charge us for the fries but for the fries fried in duck fat. ... and I really believe it was intentional, so everyone double check your bills.
(1)Sean H.
AAAAwwwwwwww yyyyeeaaahh!!! Beer, beer everywhere! And the food is boss. Atop it all the atmosphere is just tops and the service, though at times busy, is great. My dinner party and I slackjawed it up with what seemed to be a revolving three waitresses that took turns serving us and it was super cool (two of the three were cute, one was super cute). They were setting up for karaoke too just as we finished our meals. This place oozes fun, relaxed, and enjoyable and I need to make a concerted effort to go here more often. The chow: Smoke burger = delicious and well liked by many. Kobe beef hot dog = delicious but I wanted more. Cubano = a decent cubano with an interesting twist. Try it if you're a cubano fan. Truffled mac & cheese = there is a lot to be desired with this appetizer. The flavor is neutral and unappealing and in my opinion not worth the price. The chocolate cake thing = pure junk. I can't remember exactly what it was called but when I think chocolate cake I think a big piece of cake, not a small muffin sized piece of dense dark chocolate. It tasted bland too....just didn't like it. Notes: Good for groups, excellent bar, I once drank 12 lemonades here and tweeked out for about four hours before sleeping like a baby thumb in mouth.
(4)Charity D.
Good food--the smoke burger is amazing! I love the variety of beer they have too! Always a good meal at Alewife.
(4)Ryan S.
Been there twice, cant comment on the food other than the smoked burger is awesome. Not the end-all be-all of burgers but a tasty respectable one non-the-less. The beer selection is awesome. The name is Alewife so if they didnt have an awesome beer selection this wouldve been a 1 star review. Service was adequate but nothing really stood out. Think I remember having to flag down the waitress for a soda refill. How a restaurant handles drink refills is usually a good indicator of how attentive the wait staff is.
(4)JK H.
This place is great except no fracking happy hour. How can you have all these great beers and no happy hour?!
(3)Rich C.
What a Find!!! My wife and I had tickets to the O's game and there was a rain delay. Instead of being stuck in the yard, like a caged bird (no pun intened), we opted to head north from the parking garage on Eutaw. This place was the first place we came accros that looked inviting. The huge glass window on the front is very cool. I am a big beer guy so this place is heaven for beer folk. The selection is huge with a ton of belgian beers. Don't come looking for any kind of comercialized beers, including the big name imports, cause you won't find that here. You can get all the swill like that you want, at the yard, for about the same price. The food is equally impressive. My wife had the smoke burger and loved it. I had the chicken and it was quite possibly the best chiecken I have had in a long time. Not cheap, but well worth the extra $$$. The place is slightly upscale yet comfortible and the quality of the food and beer makes it a solid home run. Sorry couldn't help myself with that one. The staff and owner are really nice too!
(5)Jennifer S.
Their selection of beer on tap is amazing. I ordered the black bean burger. It seemed like they made it fresh for me. Their duck fries are so good that even vegetarians will want to eat them.
(5)Orin W.
Terrible experience!!! Went for a pre theater burger and made a reservation 24 hours in advance. We waited 15 minutes standing in the outside stairwell before getting seated. THEN the real annoying problems began. I ordered the Great Gatsby (some vodka drink) and when it arrived I swear it tasted like cough syrup. My wife liked it but it really wasn't for me. I kindly asked if I could switch it out for a pint of beer and the waiter said that's against their policy. Now my wife and I eat out a LOT. In New York, DC and all over the world. Never heard of this policy. Ok, my wife said, if it's a problem with the manager just have him come over. When I explained to the manager that I just didn't care for the drink he responded with "well you shouldn't order our drinks because you clearly don't like what we make." Whatever. The review is already too long but the drink sucked, the food sucked and the service sucked. There is a panera bread around the corner...go there.
(1)Tony S.
3.5 toward a 4! Came in last Saturday for lunch, not busy. Strolled up to the bar and asked for their beer menu. The bartender pointed out what they had on tap then smirked and pointed out the HUGE chalkboard of beers they had... Dazed and in a time pinch...i just asked for something hoppy, like an IPA. Before he could say, "Stone" I said, "YES!" So as for lunch, the menu is rather abbreviated. I really wanted to try the other things people mentioned in earlier reviews, but, alas, that's only on the dinner menu. NONETHELESS, WHO NEEDS A FULL MENU WHEN YOU HAVE THE SMOKED BURGER!!! Since everyone was raving on and on about it, I figured I'd give it a stab.... When I saw the asterisk next to the item on the menu saying that it takes a while to cook, I thought, "Oh this better be worth it..." 25 mins and an appetizer later out came this burger with a freaking KNIFE in it! On looks alone, I was sold. :) THen I bit into it and OMG the meat is well seasoned and tender and juicy...god, I'm salivating and it's 8:30 in the morning...SO DELICIOUS. A FAN of this burger. Friendly crowd, attentive bartender, chill place for lunch. Good beer selection, funky decor. Can't vouch for much else.
(3)Marc H.
Best bar in the inner harbor. You won't find better craft beer variety in this area. I'm also a scotch lover and their selection was ample. Met the owners and they were good people along with the bar staff. Food was great, it was really what brought me back for a second tasting, the smoke burger was great and the second night I had the pork chop. The second night I got to try a lot more great samplings of their vast selection. Reminded me of Three Floyd's in Indiana withought the fruity flavors.
(5)Travis P.
We went here with a group of 8 people for lunch before and O's game. Let me start by saying that their smoke burger was one of the best burgers I have ever had! They also have a good craft beer selection. However, they don't have a light beer option and when asked about it our server was a little pretentious with her response. For some people, a light beer option is a necessity, so in my opinion, all bars and restaurants that serve beer should have at least one light beer option. Service was also a little slow, especially considering we were the first table to be seated that day, maybe they weren't ramped up yet.
(3)christine j.
Definitely my go-to spot in downtown Baltimore. Their duck fat fries, thai wings, Smoke burger, huge beer selection keeps me coming back.
(4)Robin K.
Originally gave this place a 1-star review due to poor staff. I thought I 'd give them another chance since the burger was so good. To my surprise, the new waitress there was more bubbly and friendly. Kudos to management making the necessary changes. My last visit was definitely a 4-star experience at minimum. Averaging the two scores, I'll leave it as a 3 for now.
(3)Lina B.
GREAT beer selection with rotating draught menu that you can find illustrated on the chalkboard (or in the menu). They have a beer club, but it's pretty impossible to drink that many beers in the timeframe of one year. Smokeburger, although it DOES take a long time to come out of the kitchen, is definitely worth it. I also have tried the truffle mac and cheese, cuban sandwich, tomato soup with cheese croutons. All of these choices are definitely yummy. My roommate got the fish tacos once and wasn't very impressed. The duck fat fries are a staple and you should always order them. The aioli on the side is what makes the perfect combination. I also know my friends ordered the fennel frites and loved them, but I did not have room to try one at the time.
(4)Marie T.
i liked this place! incredibly casual, although i'd choose a different entree next time as i was a bit of a newbie and didn't realize the crab was "market price". yikes, expensive just for a crab cake on my salad. but good all the same.
(3)Norman M.
A very lively place for a good pub meal. They have an impressive list of beers available on tap. The Smoke Burger was a great choice. Gouda, thick cut bacon and duck fat fries! My wife's fish tacos were tasty as well. A little cramped but not uncomfortable. We were there during and after a baseball game so the noise level was loud but not so bad that we could not converse. They seemed a bit understaffed as well. Overall good choice.
(3)Jarrett H.
We didn't have any food, but before dealing with a wedding and my girlfriend's family, we needed a drink. Yelp, being happy to tell us where to find a good beer selection, directed us to Alewife. Sparsely populated in the mid-afternoon, there are three sections from what I could tell: A few large tables for groups or standard sit-down eating, a few high-top tables with stools for casual meetings, and the many-tapped bar. The beer menu is written on a chalkboard, but instead of selecting a single one, Alewife offers flights: four 4oz samples selected by the bartender. We asked about the regional sampler, and after mentioning we were from Pittsburgh went without the NY and PA breweries we were used to. To me this was a nice surprise, that the flights are not profit-optimized pourings written by the manager before each shift. The bartender asked what we liked and used his best judgement to give us a well-rounded sample of regional brews. Also, he was happy to give us a sample of a different one that we had been interested in. Good place to grab a drink - This place especially had a lot of Dogfish Head(I think), and a lot of Stone - many being limited release drafts.
(4)John T.
Very good beer bar and restaurant. I don't know if I would call this a gastropub, but it's close. There are a few reasons I wouldn't take it to the lofty connotation of gastropub. The menu is not very diverse, specials seem to be sparse, no suggested beer pairings, and style diversity on the beer menu could be a little better. Of course they specialize in IPAs and Belgium Beers, and they do not disappoint in that regard. Of course I make mention of the slim menu, but it is very good. Have not had anything that is disappointing. The ambiance is also very nice. Dimly lit with exposed Edison style bulbs, highlighting the age of the beautiful old bank. There is a table in the original front door that is now floor to ceiling glass that is a pleasure to sit in. There is also a large chalkboard displaying their current beer offerings. Kind of. Apparently they put things up there that aren't available yet, which can be a bit of tease. Service is good, even on the busiest of days. Prices are fair ad well. Some might thing the Smoke Burger is a little pricy at $15, but given the high quality ingredients I would disagree. However the advertised 11oz burger might be an inflated weight. There is also a $12 Kobe Beef Hot Dog I have yet to try. I have heard good things about it, but I just can't seem to allow myself to pay more for a hot dog than is charged at a Raven's game. Please don't be turned off by any of my criticisms. This is a great place that enjoy visiting whenever I can.
(4)Kathy Y.
Truffle Mac N Cheese - amazing. Lick your plate good.
(4)Nate P.
Had dinner here based on Yelp review on my first night of a fun weekend in Baltimore. Hit the spot completely. I had one of their very fun cocktails while my partner had one of the rare beers. It says on the menu that you'll get to try the rare beer before they pull you a full glass, to make sure you like it, but that was not actually the case. Luckily it was a good choice! The food was fantastic and really hit the spot after a long day of traveling. If you don't like it loud or need your server to be elegant, this might not be the spot for you. Definitely a youngish crowd that was enjoying the place, not rushing through their meals.
(4)andrew y.
Truffle Mac and cheese was wonderful. They used a wonderful choice of cheeses that were well balanced and not overpowering. The crunchiness on the top was also quite delightful. The smoke burger lived up to it's outstanding reputation. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out they do beer flights! Good choice and great option for dinner before a show at the Hippodrome which is right across the street. I recommend you call for reservations.
(4)Nelson C.
The drinks are very small and even more expensive. There was so little alcohol that I had to approach the bartender to ask if she had even put any in my drink at all. For $10 I expect more than a pathetic excuse for a Jack and Coke. The Gumbo tasted like the slop that they would feed inmates at Shawshank prison and you would be better off spending your money else where.
(1)Jeffrey S.
Went for a burger and a beer before the O's home opener. A group of 8 of us sat upstairs. Everyone raved about their food and beer. Most of us had the smoke burger and it was one of the best burgers I have had. Great selection of beer. Love the idea of converting old buildings as well, so the atmosphere was great. Wish we had more time to try more beer!!
(5)Renee C.
Overall Alewife is really good. The atmosphere is great. We went during lunch and the service was pretty slow. I got the shrimp po boy, but it is hard to say how good it actually is because it was missing the sauce. I asked repeatedly for sauce but it never came, even though we were one of two tables in the entire restaurant. My boyfriend got the smoke burger and he loved it, especially the bacon. It was nicely seasoned and the meat was tender. We shared the duck fat fries and they were good but, I don't think that they were worth the extra $1.50. Although we didn't try any of the beers, the selection was impressive and demonstrated a great knowledge of craft brewing. The artwork was fantastic and the restaurant looks really cool.
(3)Lauren B.
A converted church giving off a hipster vibe, if you have time to wait for balcony seating it offers a great overview of the scene. Alewife has an extensive craft beer selection with knowledgeable staff, but a limited dinner menu. We ordered the Blue Catfish fish tacos which were average, with a crisp topping of fried sweet potato strings that I enjoyed. Duck fat fries are a must try. Bring your appetite if you want the smoked burger, it looked mouth watering and filling!
(3)Miriam D.
The beer selection is exciting, the menu has tasty vegetarian options as well as meat ones, and the space is pleasant and handicap accessible. I have especially enjoyed the black bean veggie burger (they do not skimp on toppings) with fries and chipotle mayo, and several excellent IPAs. The price is very reasonable. The food is a bit more expensive than average bar food, but only by a few dollars. It is definitely worth it.
(4)Christy F.
The location is extremely convenient if you are going to a show at the Hippodrome, as it's basically across the street. We went to Alewife to get a quick bite before a show. We got there on what I thought was the early side for dinner - 6 pm - and we were told all the tables were reserved, so we had to sit in the bar area and that was acceptable. We ordered drinks - I had the vanilla porter which was a comfortable warming brew and not too heavy -- but when it came to ordering food, we ended up leaving. Why, you ask? I ordered the short rib and they were already sold out of it! Their menu is not that extensive and while sitting at the bar, we saw most of the entrees passed out to other diners. The Cubano looked like all bread and no meat and the duck fat fries looked absolutely sodden with heavy gravy. My date ordered the Smoke Burger, but he hates cheese and when he ordered it without cheese, he was told that the cheese is actually mixed in with the ground beef, so a cheese-less burger is not possible there. Counting that as our third strike, we left and sought other options on Pratt Street. I had previously eaten here close to Halloween and had the risotto cakes. They were tasty and the asparagus was nicely prepared. My date's fish tacos looked nice, too. This is a cool, trendish-y place converted from an old bank, so you can see the old vault in the back. A nice vibe, but it's definitely more of a bar than a dining establishment. The beer list is extensive but the cocktails aren't that good. Seems like a great place to grab a drink, but move on to a real restaurant for dinner.
(3)Melinda R.
I went to Alewife with a friend a Tuesday night. It was an opening night of a play at the Hippodrome nearby so it was PACKED! Once we got seated, we were promptly greeted by our waiter and our orders were taken. I was impressed how fast we got our food considering how crowded it was in there. I ordered the Smoke Burger which was amazing!!! It was perfectly cooked and the duck fat fries were awesome! I'd like to go back one day for happy hour or just dinner. The menu looked good with lots more on it I'd like to try.
(4)Jeremy M.
Smoke Burger. The burger was even better than expected, the beef is great, the temprature was slightly below my medium order, but that's the preferred miss, it was delicious. The smoky bacon, awesome. The cheese, drool inducing. Really, Really, great. Top 5 burger....ever. Duck fat fries...yes. Price for all that goodness $15, i think it's UNDERpriced! Nice beer selction, cool place, neighborhood is a bit "transitional" Service was less than world class which is why I couldn't give it 5 stars, but it's legit.
(4)Tom M.
This place has so much potential. Nearly 5 stars for me except one time when we had horrible service . They forgot us twice. I will give it another chance I guess. Burger is unbelievable. Decor is so authentic. Feels kinda like Brewers Art in Mt Vernon.
(4)Elaine P.
Unfortunately horrible customer service, to the point where they think they are too good that it doesn't matter how they treat people, outweighs the good food. So sad because it is really convenient to where I work, however after multiple poor experiences my entire office has sworn them off.
(2)Joe I.
Total college bar that has a MASSIVE beer selection with surprisingly limited options on tap and insanely delicious duck fat fries. I was happy to have visited the place as it is pretty cool for a one time visit, though at 37 I think I may have been the oldest person there, so that was weird. Overall cool, happy I went, duck fat fries = awesome, but I'd rather check other places in the area out before going back.
(3)Robbie H.
Have heard about Alewife for about a year or two now and finally made reservations far enough in advance to grab dinner before a show at the Hippodrome. The dining room was noisy, and we were just on the other side of the partition adjacent to a very crowded bar area. Throughout dinner I had to strain to hear my fiance. The decor was nice, some interesting stained glass windows, and all was basically clean, strong, and a bit classic. The beer list was impressive and was the best thing about our meal, I had two kinds of beer, both were delicious and unique (and for a change my beers were more expensive than my fiance's cocktails!). Our appetizer, some uninspired mini-crab cakes, came out literally 1 minute before our entrees. I got the Salmon, and my fiance got the Delmonico. Both were decent, but lacking in distinct flavor or execution. The sides were a little better, but nothing better than any of the dozens of fantastic restaurants in Baltimore at a similar price point. We splurged on dessert, and the Orange Blossom cake was delicious. We should have splurged on burgers, as the Alewife burger we saw other people devouring looked great, and may be the only thing other than the beer list worth coming to Alewife for. We decided we'll go back in a few months to try the burger, but aside from that, nothing really had us interested in returning. It's a shame though - we're subscribers to the Hippodrome, and were hoping for a great place to go before a show. Still haven't found anyplace near the Hippodrome that gives a quality meal for the money... aside from the Panera between the Hippodrome and the hospital.
(2)Dina B.
When I cancelled the Annabelle Lee tavern reservation, my husband was very upset, but I told him, 'trust me, you will not be disappointed' with Alewife. As I expected, it was terrific! We arrived at 7:15 for a 7:45 reservation; the place was jammed packed with the pre-theater crowd. By 8:00, the crowd thinned. The beer menu is extensive and I tried the Shafley pumpkin ale - fantastic. I had 2. We started with the garlic Caesar salad which lived up to its name...garlicky and delicious. One of the best Caesars I have had. My husband opted for the short rib, which came with onion rings, corn bread, and asparagus. He loved it. I had the famed smokehouse burger, which rivaled the Fleet Street Kitchen burger for best burger in town. But, Fleet Street took its burger off the menu, so Alewife wins. There are no desserts, so don't save room. Go somewhere else for sweets. The pastry chef left and has not been replaced. Oh well. I think they should work on this. Still, the place was great, good for vegetarians as well as carnivores. Will definitely return.
(4)Jojo S.
Biggest let down of the century. Went t get a bite with my sister. I should have left when the guy at the door told us it would be a 15 minute wait for a table when there were empty tables. The bartender was very nice and told us to sit down. We ordered drinks and their famous burger (medium) to share. Cut it in half and had a bite only t realize it was rare (I'm talking about- warning consuming raw or undercooked meat could make you sick rare) instead of medium. The waitress said she did not know what to do so I asked for the manager. He said he would have them remake it. Fifteen minutes later they gave us the burger cut in half on an bun that was not toasted which I thought was weird. It also did not look as mouth watering as the first burger. I pulled back the bun and realized they recooked the two halves that we had each taken a bite out of. Is that sanitary? I don't think so. Asked for the manager and the check. Went elsewhere to eat.
(1)Maria A.
Nested in a rather sketchy part of town, just a few blocks from Lexington Market and a few blocks from the Orioles/ Ravens stadiums. Therefore on game day expect a lot of traffic and no parking. This old bank has been remodeled into a mohogany panelled pub, giving it a luscious old English feel. First off, I went in there with my partner who is wheat intollerant, the waitress was extremely attentive to her needs and pretty much attentive overall, and I should mention that the place was packed since it was a Ravens game night. As a beer aficionado, I was extremely happy to see their extensive beer list. In fact, I must say I was so pleasently surprised that certain rare beers were available. As far as higher end beers go this place so far carries the greatest selection I have seen in Baltimore, including the locally famous Fells Point landmark Max's (which I also love).The house burger is to die for, absolutelty deliciously juicy and cooked to perfection. I must add that this burger is compiled from high quality cuts not assorted animal parts. The vegetarian black bean patty, for my less flesh loving partner was also delicious. On the other hand, the extremely thin cut fries (fried in duck fat), I can do without. Because they are cut too thin they tend to over absorb the fat they are fried in making them either limp or burnt. To m dissapointment, they do not carry Grey Poupon, leaving me stuck with the neon yellow substance Americans call "mustard". On the other hand the waitress was quick to offer a lovely aioli dipping sauce, which can also be used on your burger. Again skip the fries. Reservations are available during the week but not on the weekends. This is definitively the place to get a sublime burger and a good beer, in fact this is where you will find me when I get that craving again.
(4)Alex G.
Perhaps it was simply a respite from the truly bizarre business trip I was enduring, but eating and drinking at Alewife was one of the most enjoyable experiences I'd had at a pub in a long long time. First, the food: the smoke burger was delicious, and what I've come to realize is a fast-dying art, cooked to perfection (yes, medium-rare means bright pink throughout). My only suggestion would be a slightly more durable bun to handle what is a very serious piece of meat. The duck-fat cooked fries, while no comparison to the standard-bearer (Duckfat in Portland, ME), were also quite good. The beer selection was unrivaled. I finally got to taste a pumpkin ale that didn't taste like liquid pumpkin pie (thanks, Dogfish Head). And the bartendress' t-shirt pretty much summed it up: "I drink real beer because I'm awesome." Well said. Finally, the atmosphere. It has everything you'd expect from a good local bar, including several TVs (which were neither too loud nor too quiet), a lively but not unruly crowd, and stained oak throughout. The most endearing part was when two patrons mounted the bar to perform a song in celebration of having drank 150 different beers at the establishment. They were presented with engraved mugs in honor of their accomplishment, as well as a hearty congratulations from everyone in attendance. I'm only here in Baltimore for a week. I wonder how many times I can come back in that time span?
(5)Beth S.
This place makes me look like a badass every time I bring someone new. It's beautiful--all wooden and classy with ridiculously tall ceilings and the BEER! Oh, the beer. So many options--which rotate frequently--and the servers can speak intelligently on the special characteristics of each beer on the extensive menu. I'm vegan but consistently looking for places that don't make my dietary choices a pain in the ass for my buddies. Alewife has what is apparently a killing burger, and I dig the asparagus side dish as well as the Alewife salad (without cheese). *Vegan side note--if you get nervous about drinks, check out barnivore.com to see if the drinks you like are animal-friendly.* This is an excellent first date place if your date is into beer--lots of things to try and discuss. I've also brought large and small groups of friends here--the atmosphere is accommodating to both. It's usually more of a 30s crowd than a 20s crowd, which is a nice change from Max's in Fells. I love their beer selection too, but the din and fratty atmosphere kind of ruin it for me. Alewife is a little off the beaten path (down by the Hippodrome) but it seems to be developing a following of loyal customers. Get to Alewife. You'll dig it.
(5)Jenice G.
They pour some good local brews, and the smoke burger was super tasty. Be sure to check this place out!
(4)Tony S.
They nailed the three B's. Beer = cold, Burger = awesome, Bartendress = cute. What else do you want? To put a little more detail, they have an excellent beer selection. Recommend the La Chouffe strong ale. The smoke burger was really good. I like that they serve it one way, you tell them how you want it cooked and move on with your day. This isn't burger king where you give a million details about how you want mushrooms and avocado, etc.. Alewife cooks it their way and you'll like it if your a REAL American. If you don't like it, then you're obviously a commie.
(5)Hung T.
Can someone please tell me why this place is called Alewife? What is an alewife? 0_0 Anyways....this spot is your usual bar hangout for working professionals and grad students. Good for a break after studying. Just go in, grab a table, order a couple beers. Their beer list is MASSIVE. Over 100+ Duck fat fries (seems like every gastro pub/high end bar has em these days) are alright. I dont see what the big deal is. Their signature burger is also just alright. Your first three bites will seem like its the best thing ever. But then you get tired of it real fast. And last time it was a little burnt so it didn't taste that good when i got to those parts. However it was pretty damn juicy. $15 for burger + duck fat fries. A little on the steep side. If you're not careful, the bill can add up reall quick. Overall, a higher end bar with huge beer and wine list, OK food, and good service/ambience.
(3)Pam C.
Great GastroPub. Excellent staff. Awesome Beer selection. Only had appetizers tonight, the crab deviled eggs, very good. Thai peanut sauce wings, good, would have liked more of the peanut sauce. Other patrons were going crazy over their Smoke Burger...with the duck fat fries....will be getting that next time!
(5)Travis D.
Alewife is a unique experience in a city that, lately, has been desperately running away from unique experiences. The environment is modern beerhall-meets-the set of Cheers and it works well. Considering the prices (they're not cheap), the laid-back atmosphere definitely puts one at ease as they await their meal. The beer list is extensive and eclectic without being pretentious. There are some doozies on the bottles list ($25 for a beer from Scotland? ehhh maybe not) but the draft list is a bit more down-to-earth. The menu is meat-centric and awesome. Our party started with the meat & cheese platter. Served on a cutting board, the evening's choices were smoked salmon, chorizo, gruyere, bleu cheese with bread- and it was all fantastic. For the entree I had the smoke burger, which is easily the best burger in Baltimore. Cheesy, smoky, and 125% satisfying. The prices may scream "snobby" but Alewife turned out to be anything but, and I can't wait to save up some sheckles and go back.
(5)Kurt B.
An "A+" bar. It's in an old (like 1800s old) firehouse or something, and there's beautiful high ceilings, stained glass, and exposed brick. It's a terrific building. The smokeburger with herbed duckfat fries was gourmet quality everything, and the side of aioli was divinely spicy and smoky. They have a huge changing draft selection that's a mix of well-loved and obscure craft beers. Clientele are a mix of Hopkins students, yuppies, and tourists. This area doesn't really have 'locals'. That said, for great food and a great beer I can't think of a better place in Baltimore.
(5)Jeff K.
Too hip for happy hour
(3)Spencer H.
Been wanting to check out Alewife for a long time, since it's a pretty popular spot. Stopped in last night before seeing a show at the Hippodrome (right across the street). It was super crowded - likely that every other theater patron had the same idea - but the beer list did not disappoint. The first beer I ordered had just kicked, so the bartender recommended a very tasty substitute, no doubt a benefit of having such an extensive selection. After the show we decided to stop back in for a snack and nightcap. Had a bourbon cider which really hit the spot. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked tasty, but menu options were extremely limited for me, a vegan, and my vegetarian companion. I would have given it 5 stars for location, atmosphere, and tasty beverages, but I had to knock off a star for the lack of veg-friendly options. If you're into burgers though, you'll probably love this place!
(4)Sidney S.
The only thing going for this place is their beer selection. Other than that, food is just ok and service is less than exemplary. The six of us went in for dinner and beers on a Sunday night. The place was mostly empty (about 25% full). I got the smoke burger, which was edible, although the bacon on it was too chewy and clearly of a lower quality. More importantly, service was BAD. Once the waitress learned there were six of us (one of our friends joined later on), she altogether stopped caring. We literally had to track her down 4-5 times to fill up our water glass etc. In the end, she added a 20% to the check, of course. So not a great experience for the price.
(1)Lola W.
Awesome beer selection and the best black bean burger ever. While the fries are awesome, try substituting the side salad instead for a healthier option. It is not your average boring salad. I wish their happy hour went to 7 instead of 630 though.
(5)Jessica S.
We just came here for drinks for a few nights in a row while we were in town, and the beers certainly didn't disappoint. All of the beers on tap have awesome names which really entice you to try them. I also like how the %alc and price are listed as well. Lightweights beware: most of these beers are heavy on the alcohol, none of this weak Coors Light nonsense. We didn't have food here, but we did participate in the pub/trivia quiz... which was laughingly easy compared to ones we're used to :)
(5)Sina E.
We decided to go here with some friends who came back for the Thanksgiving holidays and Alewife was an excellent choice. Walking in, the atmosphere was nice, quiet at first, and eventually when the music came on, it wasn't too loud where you couldn't hold a conversation. Up front there is a bar, tables around, and upstairs for more intimate setting. Menu doesn't have too many selections, but it's not such a bad thing. So often restaurants clutter their menu with too many choices, but Alewife has kept it to some nice few selections, giving something for everyone. I got the Cubano for my entree. It was packed with flavor and a nice portion size. Pork loin and virginia ham with mustard relish went well together. The fries on the side was also a hit. Of course, if you come here, you have the choice of variety of beers, and this is really where the restaurant shines. For the beer Connoisseurs, it's great. All the beer selections are written on a big chalk board. Some selections are usually there all year, but others change and seasonal. Overall, I really enjoyed the food and the drinks here. Service was great. Staff was more than happy to help with beer selections, and attentive to everything else we asked for. The combination of all these factors warrants a five stars experience.
(5)Jim D.
Great beer selection and a great place to hang out. Really beautiful spot for a bar. Mellow vibe, usually whatever sporting event is happening on TV, good music selection. Waitstaff is friendly and know their beer. The bean burger is surprisingly good, and the duck fat fries are killer. I am sure they liposuction the ducks, so the combo makes both the animals and the vegetarians happy.
(5)Laura Lee E.
Possibly the best burger I have ever put in my mouth. First visit was to use a Groupon and check the place out. Second visit was because the first was so nice. Oh, and they have enough beer for you to BATHE in it on tap. Cool old bank that has been several things in its history, but makes for a fun and interesting tavern. I like that there are TVs to watch various sporting events, but that there is music playing at a level you can talk with your dinner partners over, rather than TV chatter. Note that you may ask for small samples before choosing from the extensive beer list so you know you love it before you buy it. Service both times was lovely, once at a table, once at the bar. And entertaining. When there on Thursday, the day it was 103 degrees as I walked in, literally, the heavens opened with a vengeance about an hour later.As the bartender opened the inside shutters to reveal the downpour (you couldn't see the Hippodrome across the street!), he turned to the bar and said "Anyone bring an ark? No one panic...just keep drinking beer." The Smoke Burger - An 11oz House Ground Ribeye, Brisket, Skirt and Filet of Beef Burger, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere Cheese, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun, Duck Fat Fries. Served with a full sized steak knife sticking out of the center of the bun, is impressive and delicious. The first time it was prepared absolutely perfectly. The second it was slightly more medium, than medium rare, but that didn't keep me from savoring every bite. The fries are hand cut and crispy-delicious. This may be a slightly pricier adventure that your average 'beer hall' but the food, the 40 beers on tap and the service are well above average.
(4)Kelly M.
The BF finally bought a Groupon and of course it was to a beer house. Bless his hop-filled little heart! The location is right across from the Hippodrome so I imagine parking can be hard to find and I'm sure it's pretty packed when shows are on but we arrived relatively early on a Friday night and had no problem getting a table. The beer menu is (not surprisingly) very large and comprehensive with over 40 beers on tap and pages of unique bottled beers. The prices for the draught beers were not bad and the selection was good although the BF and I had already tried several. But we both found selections we hadn't tried that were very satisfying and well recommended by our server. I was also please to see that although their wine menu is small it was well chosen and there were some good options there although I thought the price for a glass was a bit high. We ordered the mussels for an appetizer. They were solid although I would have liked a bit more bread to soak up the broth. BF ordered the risotto cakes which he really enjoyed. I thought they were fair. I ordered the Cubano sandwich and the duck fat fries. I enjoyed my sandwich and thought the fries were good too however not as good as the Brewer's Art fries. All in all it was a good meal and I liked the atmosphere - it would be a fun place to go to with a group or if I was going to the theater, otherwise it's unfortunately a place I likely won't go often as the location isn't convenient for where we live in the city and without another Groupon in hand I might prefer to spend my $60 bucks somewhere else.
(3)Tim H.
Went last night with my wife and another couple before West Side Story at the Hippodrome. My wife made reservations last week and she received a very friendly call today reminding her of our reservation. We got there on time, but our friends were late and we couldn't be seated until our entire party was present. Seemed reasonable to me, although I was concerned because the restaurant was fairly crowded. But as soon as our friends appeared, we were wisked to our table. Some of less-than-favorable reviews I have read about the Alewife have to do with the service. This just goes to prove that the majority of one's experience stems from your interaction with the server. In this area, we lucked out. Susannah (who was sporting the sexy-librarian look yet never committed to the pull-out-the-hairpin-and-shake-out-the-hair-in-Âslow-motion thing) was spot-on. Appeared exactly when we needed her, didn't hover, was completely frank about what was good and what would be less than stellar, And we failed to trip her up when we quizzed her on the ridiculously huge beer selection...and we tried. Our food came exactly when it should have and we had plenty of time to get to the show. The food is interesting. Overall, the menu is fairly small, maybe a tad restrictive, but had enough of a selection to appeal to most any taste. We started with the meat and cheese platter. Chorizo, smoked salmon, Gruyere cheese, herbed goat cheese, tiny pickles, and whole grain mustard made for a great selection, but it was barely large enough for two, let alone four, people. And at $16, it was not a value. Between the four of us, we had the BBQ shrimp and grits, the Cubano, and Airliner chicken. Overall, very good. Grits were cheesy and creamy and the shrimp was tender and cooked just right. They were a bit over-sauced though. Could have been a little more delicate with the flavors and been more intriguing. But the rest of my party were very pleased with their entrees, although the portions were fairly small. Especially for the price. Whether or not we caught them on a good night, we were very pleased with the service and satisfied with the food. It was just a tad pricer than it should have been, especially when considering that the portions were small. But, overall, a good place to go before the show.
(3)Brian A.
Great food, Great beer, Great staff and Great Atmosphere. The beer here is all top notch and the staff can give you a great education on each beverage and can help you find a beer that best suits you. The food is absolutely delicious and rivals one of my Favorite gastro-pubs in Baltimore, Hamilton Tavern. This a a beautiful space and enormous. Take the time to walk around and explore each floor while your venture through the extensive beer list. Be advised this is a little pricey for a gastro-pub but still reasonable. Also there are some TVs but still not a great place to watch a game.
(4)Jessica K.
I ordered food for to-go from here when I stayed at a hotel around the corner for a work meeting. The bartender was friendly and attentive and on the random Monday night I was there, there was trivia which kept me occupied while I waited for the salad I ordered. (And good thing too because my salad took a while.) They have a pretty substantial list of draft beers and a lot of amazing whiskey just waiting to be drank. I, however, sipped on water while I waited for my Alewife salad topped with a crab cake. After I got it, I speed-walked back to my hotel room to find that plastic silverware didn't accompany the salad. I didn't fret, got some from the front desk of my hotel and feasted. The salad was very fresh and the balsamic vinegarette was great. Though the star of this salad was the crab cake (which when added made the salad $24). It had minimal seasoning and a ton of crab. I saved it for after i ate all the greens. From what I could tell, this is one of the only cool places that is opened after typical work hours downtown. It was huge and pretty busy for a Monday night. Overall, though things weren't perfect, I'd totally go back and chill, play trivia and drink all their beer and whiskey. The salad was good so i'd try something else. It might have been a bit pricey but I am going to expense my dinner and well, Baltimore is a city after all. Worth your while!
(4)Scott P.
Good healthy food and if you want a burger, they got that covered too. Arugula salad, black bean burger, Alewife salad with grilled yardbird all very tasty. Fries were fresh also.Loved the music selection. Great service too. I'm a music producer and vintage Yo La Tengo, New Pornographers, Decemberists etc just wonderful.
(4)Brent F.
Not good in any way. Upon arrival we were informed of the 8 beers that they ran out of and one of the dinner specials. Ordered the Brussel sprouts which were limp and not impressive, sitting in a pool of balsamic. I originally wanted to order the burger, but after seeing how huge it was, decided to go with the Airline Chicken which was supposedly the "chef's choice." The dish was $20 so I expect it to be pretty nice size and tasty. Unfortunately it was one very small chicken breast sitting in a bowl of broth with a bit of sausage (a small bit) and a few other veggies. The flavor was overly salty and unimpressive. I felt like I was at a Ruby Tuesdays but paying twice as much. My wife had the fish tacos which were just ok, not great. Were interested in dessert but they only had plain cheesecake (waitress said they aren't a dessert place and suggested Cheesecake Factory at the harbor). Don't waste your time here!
(1)Russell P.
We heard about the Alwwife from the owner at the Air B&B at which we stayed -- very glad she recommended it! The atmosphere is all wood panelling and brass rails -- as a former bank should be! -- the main room was a bit noisy but there were quieter nooks available, and we took one, right under the vast chalkboard of beer offerings. We tried a few local ones we hadn't heard of before and were not disappointed! The food was great -- the "Smoke Burger" fabulous as advertised, with so much flavor, even just in a piece of the bun (one of our party, being off gluten, shared 'round his with the rest of us), that you just couldn't resist. The crab cakes were excellent if a tad pricey (well, "Market Price," what can you say?); we also tried some spicy oysters and shrimp with gumbo, both delicious. With the atmosphere, food, and drink all very congenial, our party of five went home very satisfied. I'm sure we'll go here again!
(4)Beth G.
Came here with some friends. I had beers which were good. My partner ordered the crab devilled eggs. That morning he was vomiting and had terrible diarrhea. This continued throughout the day. He was not getting better and ended up going to the hospital for IV fluids. My partner does not drink and had no alcohol. I am not sure if the eggs had gone bad or what but here is a warning to never order devilled eggs from a bar!
(2)Zeph D.
The smoke burger is a work of art for your tongue and mouth. The smell, sight and physical touch alone can't describe what takes place when you bite into it. IT IS AMAZING. Yeah it's a burger... but it should be in another class or category really. Like Steak Scultpure or something. The fries are dope too. I really got a crush on this burger. I won't say it's the best burger EVER but I will say it's the best burger I ever had. There's ground beef stuck between two pieces of bread then there's THIS masterpiece. Eating it is like watching an orchestra play live or seeing Circue du Soliell in person (if you're into that type of stuff.)
(5)Nay P.
Bottom line up front. Come here for the smoke burger and beer or you will most likely be disappointed. NOT for anything else one the menu, AND NOT for the service! Choose this establishment for a going away party for two of my co-workers. Wanted to order ahead since we only have a limited time for lunch. I brought over the orders and specifically told Matt we needed everything ready by 11:30 AM - 11:40 AM. We get there and have pre-made name tags for our food which was nice but the food did not come out until 11:50 AM - 12:00 PM and later. Everything was brought out sporadically. Everyone who got the burger including myself liked it however others who ordered anything else were not happy. Kind of put a damper on the occasion. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
(3)Ashley M.
Great food!! This place has a great selection of beers! The food was really really good! Great service and the girls were friendly. I would recommend the shrimp and grits(that's what I had) it was perfect proportions for someone that didn't want to over eat, and it was just enough to last me through the night. Along with a few beers ;-)
(4)Kim K.
As cool as it gets in Baltimore. I am not one to hit pubs, but this place is special. Loved the music they were playing: Echo & the Bunnymen, Jesus & Mary Chain, New Order, etc. ok, I am showing my age here, but the crowd was very diverse. The service was fantastic and the architecture is very cool- be sure to walk up to the women's rest room! I had the spicy pumpkin soup and their famous burger. Both were delicious. Highly recommend for service, atmosphere & food.
(5)Christine K.
I've only been for drinks and I don't think it's anything special. Beer selection is decent for the area and the cocktail list is short but diverse. I would not recommend asking for any cocktails that require more than three very basic ingredients. I ordered a drink off the menu and the bartender swapped out rye for bourbon without asking me or letting me know. I noticed and mentioned that it would have been nice to know before making my drink, and all I got was shrug. If you keep your expectations low because you came here because it's convenient, then you'll be happy.
(2)Sarcofago N.
Modern, fake, Tourist trap, bad frat vibe, in a more-dangerous-looking type area than normal dangerous-looking areas in Baltimore. Has a fake upscale feel with a lot of beer selections (which are constantly tapped out and not good selections in the first place: IPAs. Seeming newbie barkeeps. Cocktails and food sounded good on paper but tasted low rent. This place might impress grandparents who've never been to a big city and were desperate enough to get out of their car in a ghetto Go to Hampden if you want to be around real scensters and foodies. AVOID
(2)Teri H.
Went here for lunch with a coworker and we split the alewife salad and the smoke burger. Alewife Salad: Baby Greens, Grilled & Chilled Asparagus, St. Pete's Blue, Candied Cashews, Spiced Granny Smith Apples, Balsamic. I felt all these ingredients were pretty sparse and I did not see any cashews but otherwise the salad has a good flavor just wish there were more ingredients. Smoke Burger: 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun, Duck Fat Fries. Burger was cooked perfectly and delicious just wish the bacon was cooked more. It was pretty limp. This place is close to the Hippodrome and is def worth a visit as they offer craft beers as well.
(3)Pat M.
Alewife remains a very strong place to grab a quality beer. However, the last two times I've visited the food has been merely so-so, and last night the service was disappointing. What have they done to the shrimp and grits?! Once upon a time it was a delectable bowl of creamy goodness, with large shrimp arranged around the edges. Now it's three stacks of fried grits patties, with smaller shrimp and a sauce atop each. Not impressed. Meanwhile, I've had their semi-legendary smokeburger my last two visits, and it's just been good but not great. As for last night's service, there appeared to be just one waitress working the tables, and she really didn't seem to be into it. We ordered food, yet no salt and pepper was brought to the table. And we had numerous extended waits at various points in the meal. I'll be back for sure, but likely just for the craft beer selection.
(3)Jennifer E.
Baltimore is my home away from home for four days of every year when I visit for Maryland Deathfest. In the past few years (out of five, so far) that I've gone, I've hit up Alewife for either food or drinks. They get really crowded around the weekend that I go since it appears that a lot of graduations fall around Memorial Day weekend. Even when they are busy I tend to get pretty decent service. The food is what I would describe as upscale bar food. I've tried their burger, steak and fish tacos with local catfish so far. Everything always tastes delicious and fresh. I would also recommend getting the duck fat fries. Even if your entree doesn't come with them, you should definitely get a basket to split with the table. So good. Their beer selection is superb and at times they even offer flights (not always though). I can always count on getting a fantastic local brew to try out. I would certainly say that when I'm in Baltimore I will continue to go back as I haven't tried anything I haven't liked. Food is good and the prices are crazy considering the quality. I also appreciate that our server complimented us metal heads for being actually nicer and better customers then most of the tourists she encounters. Can't judge a book by it's cover, ya know?
(4)Jackie D.
My daughter and I were here after a show at the Hippodrome late one Friday night in December. Naturally, it was packed. We had drinks at the busy bar while we waited for a table. Our table was comfortably spaced and the servers were attentive. We shared the shrimp and grits for an appetizer. Thought they were fine. Having read other reviews, I had to try the Smoke Burger (and I rarely order burgers). I was not disappointed. It was delicious and huge! Plenty leftover for the next day. My daughter had the wild boar sliders. She liked them (so did her brother when he at the leftovers the next day.) I thought they were okay, but they had more of a meatball flavor to me. I wouldn't hesitate to return next time I see a show at the Hippodrome.
(4)Angela M.
I was tasked with finding a dinner spot near the convention center that would be tasty but casual enough to allow baby and stroller in tow. After reading the other reviews that mentioned the former bank building, I vaguely recalled coming here the last time that I was in town for a convention (2008), but only for drinks and appetizers, and vaguely remembered a positive experience, so decided to try it. We arrived around 6 on a Wednesday, and while the front room had a decent crowd, we were the first in the back. We struggled a little with the beer list, since our group don't tend toward the craft beer scene, and they were changing out several kegs since it was Craft Beer Week. The server was patient with us, bringing several samples to make sure we got the right pint. I had the Oysters Chesapeake and the Alewife salad, while the others ordered the peach quesadilla with chicken and the catfish tacos. The Oysters were just ok. The tepid temperature did little for the taste and nothing for the texture. The sauce made the breading of the fried oyster slightly soggy. The greens were wilted. The salad was crisp and fresh. The tacos were the hit of the night. Decent experience, and I would return, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend.
(3)Josh A.
I went to Alewife on Valentine's Day for a romantic dinner with my date, and while dinner was fine, and the space beautiful, the multiple TVs and very loud 90's grunge music really soured the tone. Not sure why they thought nonstop Nirvana and Bush was the was to go on a night when there were many couples there for dates, and the music was so loud you could barely talk to your table partner. Dinner itself was good for the most part. We started with the special vanilla-infused lobster appetizer, which was a little sweet for my taste (it reminded me of cake batter with lobster in it), but not terrible. My date had the fish tacos, which neither of us particularly loved (there was a slightly off taste about them that neither of us could identify), and I had the crab cakes with fried green tomato and creamed corn, which was excellent. We finished with the very tasty chocolate mousse cake. Over all, it was a little hit or miss, but the service was excellent. Our waitress, though very busy, was attentive and thoughtful with her recommendations. Alewife is great if you want to grab an interesting beer with some buddies (their beer list is truly phenomenal), but not great for a romantic date...or if you want to have a conversation. This strikes me as a little off since their decor and menu seem to want to be a fine dining restaurant, but the sound level and ambiance directly counteract that.
(3)Michele L.
This place is beautiful but with beers averaging $7 and $8 a pint (with many at $10-11), I can't justify spending money in a place with such a rude staff. The hostess in particular was nasty to us, and made us feel like a nuisance. It's convenience to the Hippodrome makes it hard to pass up before a show, but I'll be hard pressed to go back.
(2)Tunaidi A.
Everyone raves about Alewife's Smoke Burger. While the Smoke Burger is good, juicy, tender, etc., I'm not convinced that it's a burger worth $15. I've had better burgers before that really pack a bang for less. That being said, service is friendly and attentive and the calamari is a decent play. Parking is scarce, but not impossible.
(3)C G.
Went before going to see a show at the Hippodrome with my sister around 5:45- Told the server we would be there for a while. When it was time to order, we asked for Brussels sprouts as an appetizer, and then the smokehouse burgers as a meal. We also asked for an arugula salad with chicken to be brought out later around 7 when our third party arrived. At 6:20ish, the Brussels sprouts, the burgers, and the salad without chicken came out at the same time. What is the point of asking for an appetizer and asking for a meal to come out later if the server isn't going to follow directions? I've worked as a server before. I know it's simply a matter of entering what you want in the system (appetizer) then entering the other meals to be cooked about 5 minutes later (some POS systems even allow you to enter it with the appetizer and put a hold on it so it wouldn't be sent to the kitchen right away) Our server clearly didn't care. The Brussels sprouts were terrible. We sent them back along with the salad. The server pretended that she didn't know we wanted chicken on it and we didn't want the salad out right away. She then presumed to ignore us for the rest of the meal. I had to get up and go to the bar to get napkins and I had to get up to ask her for water, which she gave me attitude and didn't even bother bringing us water (continued talking to other servers and going to other tables) On top of the absolutely terrible service, the prices were a little ridiculous (3 bucks for an iced tea ?) and the burger wasn't special at all. The couple next to us were complaining about the service as well. Matter of fact, the tables surrounding us looked unhappy with empty drinks. I won't be back.
(1)Virginia B.
Lots of poor reviews but my experience was pretty good! Huge beer selection and best black bean burger I've ever had! My only complaint would be service was slow for the place being empty and the menu was too small. And i like a small menu.
(4)M K.
I work near here, so have come here for multiple post-work dinner/happy hour. I've had their burgers on several occasion, and it's pretty tasty. It's a simple burger with nothing too crazy inside of it. The bun is nicely toasted, meat is quite juicy and tasty. The prices can be a little steep though. Overall, a great place for a burger.
(3)Deborah N.
Bartender gave great service. She noticed I wasn't eating my burger, which was undercooked and cold. She had the kitchen make me a new one. Not stick the old one in the microwave, but make a whole new one. Plus this place was recommended bu my dad, who is even fussier than me! Did not drink any alcohol but others all liked their drinks!
(4)Mac O.
Alewife exudes a really lovely gastropub-y vibe here, with its two-story, mirror-backed bar and large, arched windows. Husband and I found an exceptional draught beer selection on our visit, including St. Bernardus Abt 12, Dogfish Saison du Buff, Houblon Chouffe, Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, and Allagash Tripel. I couldn't resist sampling the Imperial Scoville from local Laurel brewery Jailbreak, a double IPA brewed with "hot ass peppers." I loved how the subtle heat complemented the bitter hops. To wash down the beers, husband and I each ordered the Alewife Salad: baby greens, grilled asparagus, St. Pete's blue (I think our salads actually had goat cheese instead), candied cashews, spiced Granny Smith apples, and balsamic dressing. We also both added a crab cake which, while steep at a $15 charge, was truly impressive. The lumps of crab were huge, the filler minimal, and the sear to the outside gave the cakes a nice golden crust. The salad plus the crab cake make a perfectly filling light lunch. Our bartender was excellent as well. She was happy to offer us little tastes of any beers we were unsure about, and she made intelligent recommendations based on our preferences and the brews we'd already ordered. We were quite pleased to find a watering hole with such a diverse and impressive draught selection this close to Camden Yards (a short, half-mile walk straight down Eutaw Street). Alewife makes for a refreshing change from the mob-scene of sports bars right next to the Park and now occupies a slot on our list of Balmer favorites.
(4)Deb W.
My friend says this place is a dive....I disagree. The place has a great ambiance, high ceilings and awesome windows. Those duck fat fries were pretty good. The black bean burger wasn't great. It lacked flavor and fell apart easily. My friend had the Smoke Burger and regular fries. I think his selection was much better. The fries were relish and the burger bite that I had hit the spot (we were a bit hung over). We sat at the bar and there were only 2 other tables. I was impressed with the beer selection, and gather that on weekend nights it becomes a fun bar. There is a balcony upstairs, which would be a great place to be on a Saturday night!
(4)Will D.
The Wild Boar Sliders were the most disgusting and vomit inducing dinner I have ever forcibly consumed. After hours of dry heaving and hydrating myself with Gatorade I mustered the strength to write this review. Only in comparison to a slab of meat burnt to cinder perfection and then lathered with an oceans amount of salt can one find a similar "meal". Not only did they rob my taste buds but they gave me only three golf sized sliders covered in carrots with a side of a few fries for my arm and a leg payment of $15. I can only recommend this meal to masochists and those who desire look a likes of coal chunks to put in their children's stockings this coming Christmas. - Cameron Dorr
(1)Sonya L.
We went to Alewife for dinner on Saturday night with a big group to celebrate our friends moving away. We arrived early for our reservation and the hostess didn't greet us but said "come back at 8". As we approached the bar we were treated like we were in the way by a particular waitress when we were just trying to walk through. We went to the bar and waited and while we waited the bartender was friendly and helpful with questions. Once we sat at our table the waiter listed everything that the restaurant was out of (at 8pm on a Saturday). The problem with this was we ordered other stuff off of the food/drink menu he had to keep coming back to tell us they were out of it. The drink menu is extensive and looked great so we were having trouble ordering. As we ordered and asked questions about drinks he really couldn't give us any information on any of the drinks. I ordered a burger and I ordered it medium. It came out raw. I like meat more on the rare side so I went with it but as I got to the middle I had to take out the entire middle of the burger. The burger also completely lacked flavor. Their duck fat fries did have good flavor but came out cold. We also split the artichokes and they were decent. They tasted like fried dough. The majority of the table said their food was "okay". My husband did get one of their beers and it was delicious. We all also really liked the cocktails on their menu. After dinner we went to the bar to hang out with our friends for a few more minutes because it was a going away get together and we didn't know when we'd see each other again. As we stood at the full bar a rude waitress made it known several times that we were in her way by yelling in our ears, "COMING THROUGH". I found this so annoying and it really was making it hard for me to enjoy spending time with my friends. We had no where else to go and were trying our very best to stay out of her way. We weren't drunk or being obnoxious. She clearly just doesn't enjoy her job and felt the need to take it out on customers. This was also the same waitress that made us feel like we were in her way when we were walking through to the bar area initially. I gave this place 2 stars because their service is unwelcoming and unknowledgeable, food is bland and drinks/beer are the only thing this place has going for it. We will not be returning.
(2)Kristin D.
Have been here multiple times before the theater. Make reservations. Food is consistently good. From fish tacos to their salad to what I think is best on menu their burger with duck fat fries although cook time on burger can be a little slow. Good service everyone e is pkeasant. And always fun to be in an old converted bank. Not fancy but a fun casual place no pretentious attitude here.
(4)Rebekah T.
When I first heard the name Alewife, I was intrigued by the old bank turned into a gastro pub/ alehouse . It didn't take much to convince my guy to stop in for lunch. We love places like this. I was instantly impressed by the old bank that still holds so much of the character. The old front doors turned into a window booth caught my eye. We sat at the bar, which was the former front bank counter. The bartender was very nice. He knew a lot about the beer and cocktails. We had a great conversation the entire time, which made it fun. My guy went with a sampler which was made up of beers he had not yet tried before. On his recommendation, I tried the Berre Leimonad - cucumber & basil infused death's door gin, freshly squeezed lemon & orange juice, crushed berry blend, simple syrup, rocks. It was really great! I want to make my own infused gin now. We already knew what we wanted, the Smoke Burger with the Duck Fat Fries! The 11oz House Ground Ribeye, Brisket, Skirt & Filet of Beef Burger, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere Cheese, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun IS AMAZING. It is by far the BEST BURGER I've had and I have been around..... The Smoke Burger with the Duck Fat Fries were so very decadent. We split the plate and were both very pleased with the burger.The Duck Fat fries are the icing on the cake, so flavorful and nothing like I've tried before. We were in burger heaven, After another beer or two, we had to pull ourselves away from Alewife. It's one of my favorite places and lunches in Baltimore. I don't think that I'll forget that burger easily, as it's now set the bar for burgers in my book.
(5)Lisa K.
Went to Alewife for dinner when I was in Baltimore a few weeks back. Our party of 3 were seated after a couple minutes of confusion waiting at the empty podium with a sign that wasn't sure if it wanted to say 'seat yourself' or 'please wait to be seated'. The waitress informed us of the specials they had that day along with a list of local beers that would be accompanied with a free beer glass, however, they ran out of glasses....lame. We ordered the asparagus appetizer and there was really nothing about it that stood out taste wise, it could have easily accompanied my entree. I ordered the short rib dinner and it was also just an average dish. The beer BBQ sauce was decent, the cornbread was a bit dry and the portions were a tad small for $26 a plate. One thing that irked me was that the short rib dish was my 3rd choice since some of the options on the menu they ran out of or were"no longer on the menu"....they just hadn't updated it. I enjoyed the pub atmosphere of Alewife but wish I could have tried the dishes that had appealed to me initially.
(3)Daphne H.
Good local bar to get a drink after a show at the hippodrome. They have a good beer list. The duck fat fries are a worthwhile treat to go with a glass of wine or cold beer.
(3)Rebecca G.
Alewife has a lot of reviews online, and many are very positive. It's been recommended to us many times, and we've heard that their burger is one of the best around, so decided to finally try it. No lie, the pictures for this review have been sitting in a folder labeled "downtown bad burger" for a little over a year, out of procrastination and avoidance of writing a bad review. We hate writing bad reviews, we really do. We'd rather have awesome meals all the time and have to complain about making hard choices between great restaurants. Unfortunately, sometimes we have a meal that isn't great. I sat on this one for a while, in case we went back to give them another chance, or someone talked me out of disliking this food. But that didn't happen, so here we go. His plate: Smoke burger - An 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Duck Fat Fries Her plate: Grilled Skirt Steak - 7oz Snake River Farms Kobe Skirt Steak (ordered rare), Stone Smoked Porter Demi Glace, Smoked Sweet Potato Mash, Grilled Asparagus The smoke burger has a note that it takes a little longer to prepare than other items. Well, that's fine with us - we have no problem waiting. So long as the other entrees don't suffer in quality. Timing doesn't bother us (as much as it definitely bothers some diners) - either bring both at once, having fired the steak much later than the burger; or bring them at different times. Just please don't make the food quality and temperature suffer. It's not hard to time a skirt steak that's ordered rare - it cooks for practically no time. Pull the burger, and as it starts to rest, fire the steak. That's all. The asparagus was the best part of my plate. The sweet potato mash didn't taste smoked, and was bland. The skirt steak was overcooked, closer to well done than anything else, making it chewy and really kinda terrible. It was also underseasoned, and the demi glace was gloppy and had no hint of smoke flavor. D's burger was also underseasoned, which is a little amazing considering the smoked burger, two cheeses, bacon, caramelized onion, and chipotle aioli - that should be lots of great flavors. But, chewy bacon, not well-melted cheese, blah beef, and missing-in-action aioli don't add up to good flavors. The duck fat fries don't even compare to those at Salt - bland and served at room temperature. The place was moderately busy - not crazy, but lots of tables. We chatted with the table of four next to us, at which two people had ordered the burger and were also not enjoying it. Maybe it was an off night? We love the space in here, and the beer menu, so maybe we'll end up here again for appetizers, but we've had much better elsewhere. The service wasn't bad, but nobody ever came back to check on how our food was until quite a while after it had arrived, so we didn't get to give feedback about the temperature the steak was cooked to, or sauce for the burger.
(2)Kerri M.
I like the look of the interior, it's pretty cool. I've been here twice and both times I got the grilled cheese and tomato soup. Scrumptious, I say! Also, my date got the burger both times and seemed to enjoy it. I like the variety of beers on tap, the main reason I come here, to be honest. What I don't like, it's kinda loud in there and the service is a bit slow.
(3)Scarlett H.
I like to think of this place as the local hideyhole of deliciousness. It's a very ambient and classy place, despite having a bar section and TVs, but it's got the dark lighting and dark paneled wood and a lovely cozy atmosphere. Drinks are served in all sorts of interesting glasses and cups (water in Mason jars) if you didn't get enough of the hipster decorations. I came with a big group, and they are very accommodating (the next table over had 16 people), even when 4 of our crew never showed up. The servers are very attentive and the food is great. I personally vouch for the fish tacos. The pork sliders are not bad, the smoke burger is a fairly good burger (apparently better if you order it medium ish, but I like them well done and that probably ruins the taste haha), duck fat fries are also amazing (definitely get the aioli, don't settle for ketchup), and the pork shank is not particularly unique (standard shank..what can I say). What they do have is a huge beer selection--they carry a lot of foreign beers and it's a great place to try your taste bud. I had the Frambozen (belgium raspberry tart) - excellent for those who want a bit of fruit but doesn't take away from the alcohol nor does it drown itself in sugar.
(4)Erik H.
Great place for date night or a spot to grab some good brew. Alewife imperial Porter is a beer you'll want to try
(4)Rob P.
2.5 stars. I'd maybe come back here for drinks if someone insisted on it; but will never return for food. Here's the breakdown: Beer: 4-stars. 40 beers on tap. The selection is pretty good and prices are OK. Food: 2-stars. The smoke burger has got to be one of the most overrated things I have ever tasted. C'mon, you made a bacon cheeseburger with smoked Gouda. The one I ate was charred on the outside and cold on the inside. Hardly a decent "medium" cook. If this were just a $10 burger on a menu at a bar, I'd write it off as crappy bar food. But this is supposed to be the "signature" item here? Not good. Service: 1-star. Service started off OK. Our sever took our drink and food orders. She delivered the drinks and then we never saw her again. Someone else brought out our food and we sat there and ate with empty glasses. Then we sat for another 10 minutes after our meal waiting for her to bring out a check. She never showed. When I have to go get someone to let me pay and leave, you have failed massively in the service department. Apparently our server had left for the night. No one told us this or made any attempt to wait on us after that. Too bad for Alewife because we would have ordered at least one more round with dinner and were planning on sticking around at the bar afterward to explore the draft list. But you don't want our money? That's fine, plenty of other bars will happily take our money.
(2)Michael M.
You haven't been here yet??? What are you waiting for!!! Smoke Burger.. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!! GREAT Gastropub and always friendly service. This has got to be one of the best places in Baltimore hands down.
(5)Vinnie A.
The burger and duck fat fries were amaaaazing!
(5)T O.
Service wasn't great. Had to seek out our server a couple of times. She ended up just disappearing and we got handed off to another server. I've been here one other time and the burger was pretty good. Though I do like my burgers well done my friends who ordered theirs medium rare also got burgers that were well done. Which was super disappointing since I had hyped up this burger to them so much. Fries are fine. Nothing to get excited about. Their beer selections were decent though twice I ordered two different beers they were out of both. My friends ran into the same problem. I'd probably stop in for a beer if I was ever in the neighborhood but won't go out of my way. Service and beer menu needs attention asap. Kitchen may need to re-train on cooking temperatures?
(3)Lauren A.
Heard about their duck fat fries so I ordered their smoke burger to go. Atmosphere was cool. Parking is hard to find. Service was great. The burger and fries were good, but not five star. Plenty of substance but rather bland. Overall good experience.
(4)Ben S.
Great food and TERRIBLE customer service. At the end of one of the workers shifts, they physically pushed me out of their way and stepped on my shoe. It's a shame, because with better staff it could be a stellar restaurant.
(3)Carrie R.
Really yummy locally sourced food and a chill atmosphere. Would recommend the duck fat fries!
(4)G H.
This place came highly recommended so I dined here with business associates on a Tuesday night. Made reservation for 7 but arrived at 630 and the gentleman at the door immediately seated us in the back room, which was great because it was very busy. Has an extensive beer list but the first one I tried to order on tap was out. The local Full Tilt I ordered was good. I opted for the cajun pot pie which was very tasty and spicy with shrimp, crab, rice and andouille, but rather small. Associate had the airliner chicken which she also said was good but there wasn't much to it. My other associate had the smoke burger which was huge with a large amount of fries. Service was pretty good, we had both a waiter and waitress which was odd. Looks like a very old building, so it was very loud inside, which I expected, and fine with me, as it's a bar, but if you're looking for quiet dining this isn't your place. As I said, this was highly recommended, but there's nothing here that I experienced that merited the recommendation. It wasn't bad, but nothing out of this world.
(3)Lauren M.
Please management, take yourself off of the "late night" food listings. Your kitchen closes at 11:30.
(1)Kathy R.
Reservations tonight at 630. Noted has tickets to show across the street when making the reservation, as requested. Table wasn't ready til 640. No big deal. Waited an hour for dinner, had to snarf it down to get to the show in time. No apologies, just excuses. Food was good but no time to really enjoy it. Really really disappointing.
(3)George C.
Came in for an early dinner on a Sunday night. Alewife is in a pretty cool building. High ceilings, random balcony overlooking the dining room, lots of art work, etc... Just a funky old building. I ordered the fish tacos but they were out of them so I went with the boar sliders. They were flavorful but a little over cooked and on the dry side. The deal breaker for me was the buns used for the sliders. Instead of the buns being slightly toasted and chewy they were hard and on the crunchy side. It was a bummer. CRUNCH with every bite. My wife ordered the burger and it was cooked perfect and tasty. Her bun wasn't over toasted and it was a really good burger. They have a huge beer selection and the cocktail list was solid. Our server was nice. He knew the menu well. Especially when it came to the beer list. No dessert?!?! What the heck! I asked for a dessert menu and our server said they didn't have one. Why is having a couple of dessert items on the menu such a pain in the ass? I don't get it. Lame. I don't get to Baltimore often but I would eat here again. Not anytime soon because I have other places to explore first. Maybe when I come back they'll have dessert?
(3)Debra S.
Loved the atmosphere but out of the 3 Smoky Burgers ordered for the table 3 had cold fries and my burger was luke warm but I didn't want to wait for the to warm it up so I settled for that and they got new fries for us. My friend ordered the pork shank and it also came out very cold and he returned it but didn't get his meal back for 15 more minutes. When I asked the waiter what was up with this cold food he said " I have no idea / control over the kitchen".... I will be steering anyone I know away from this place Poor food and customer service.
(1)Kevin K.
Cavernous space, dark wood everywhere. The front room's too large and feels like an empty chuch. Bar service is friendly and prompt without being intrusive. Similar in size but well below Max's and OLaR for "best beer-lists in Bmore" (and FSK, Mahaffeys.. according to preference). Prices are $6-10 for a draft and the style variety is limited for such a large list: very few sours or smoked beers and lacking solid lagers. Selections per style aren't consistently high, and the list is dominated by sweet IPAs. The bottle list compensates though with a few excellent selections per style (De la Senne's Stouterik!). Buffalo Sliders - crispy exterior, dry interior. Gray throughout, the pickled veggies are a crunchy break from the one-note, nearly flavorless meat. The aoili is lightly spicy--slab it on next time! Tomato Soup - Great stuff. Texture spot on, hints of smoke but still appropriately acidic and tangy. The croutons provide the right crunch and read way cheaper than they taste--they are delicately flavored, just the right balance with the soup's profile.
(3)Kristen R.
Staff were friendly and had great information of selections on tap. Setting was lively, a bit loud but maybe to be expected on a Thursday eveing inbetween shows at The Hippodrome- it is right across the street. Minus one star for being a bit greasier thn expected but the Brussel Sprouts (Lite Fare) were delicious and big enough portion to share with table of 4.
(4)Sue K.
If i am ever back in baltimore, I'd come back here. I was in for a conference and a few of my friends drove into the city to see me. We needed a low key place to do dinner - and this could not have been any better. we had blackbean burger and a regular meat burger (I forget which one). The black bean burger was good except for the texture - the flavor was all there but it was a little too mushy. I think I'd add pickles or some sort of hard/crisp veggies to balance the texture. The meat burger (whichever one we got) was fantastic. Very VERY flavorful. We also hared a salad and an appetizer. Their beer selection was fantastic as well. Allegash beer on tap went well with the burgers and fries.
(4)Scott C.
First of all, the reason to go is for the extensive and locally heavy beer menu. They have a very lovely selection of craft brews. The food is good, not great. We had 2 meals here- the duck fat fries are delicious and the the shrimps on grits were very tasty. Cajun pot pie was very good, though heavy on the rice. One of my favorite dishes, broiled Brussels sprouts, was done not as well as I would have liked. It was a bit soggy while I was expecting something borderline burnt/crispy. Overall, it is a decent dining experience, but the beer outshines the food. All is a bit overpriced. 2 entrees (cajun Pot Pie, 3 shrimp on grits), a salad, an order of fries and 4 beers ran $80,plus tip. Ouch.
(3)William B.
Had a reservation for three at 6:00. Got there on time, but we were told there would be a 45-minute wait. Didn't bother. Why take reservations?
(1)Megan S.
BEST fish tacos AND they have duckfat fries. Yes, it is perfect for that cheat meal at the end of the week. Nice comfortable atmosphere with dim lights and a huge drink selection if you want to take a load off. Some of the tables and seats are a little close together, but what better way to chat up with some friendly people?
(4)Vickie S.
I've been here both for lunch and for dinner, and while I definitely think the full dinner menu is the bee's knees and really needs to be when you go to check out their food, the lunch menu is just a truncated version of dinner. For the carnivores, the menu has more than once included wild boar. F. Y. I. I didn't anticipate that the place became such a sports bar for Ravens games. Lunch with my mom and her husband was surrounded by purple burger-eaters, well before kickoff. I had always considered their atmosphere to be more classy than that, but if you limit your lunch to your sandwiches and fish and chips, maybe I should have guessed. I prefer the gorgeous lit-up dinner timeframe where the place seems warm and glows under the hanging lamps. We don't need more sports bars, Baltimore. We really don't. Their draught list is practically curated - and there's something for literally any taste between pours and bottles. Relatedly, the staff seems to always be bearded and/or lumberjack-hipster style young men. Your knit beanie may not have been exactly professional, waiter-dude, but you fit right in with your fellows. Come for the food and the beer. I just recommend not doing it at lunchtime or on game day.
(4)Kim K.
Aweful Service From Owner Stopped by because of recommendation to try burger. Was told no tables available. Over next 20 minutes at least two parties came in without reservations and were given tables. Apparently we are not on the "cool" list & were given the shaft. Cant judge food because never given a table. 0 stars for effort. 0 stars for customer service. 0 stars for being jerks when we complained for crappy service. 1 star for bartender who tried to give a sh#t
(1)camron W.
Go with the Smoke Burger and one of the great draught beers !
(5)Traci R.
Disclaimer: I dined here the night of the John Mayer concert so it was PACKED. My friend and I sat in the bar area since we didn't have reservations. Drinks: My friend just got a regular double vodka and cranberry. I got the Bacon Bloody Brian because I believe that you can't go wrong w/ bacon....and I was right! his was one of the best Bloody Mary's I've had and I've had quite a few. I think they could cut the size of the drink in half and cut the cost as well. It's just a lot of tomato juice but the drink was awesome! Food: We both got the Smoke Burger, medium. Their medium looked a lot of medium rare. It took us more than 45mins to get our food so I wasn't about to send it back but I definitely crossed my fingers that a stomach bug wasn't in my future (which it wasn't). But the burger was good though. And yes, they do warn you that the almighty Smoke Burger takes longer than regular old burgers buuuut 45mins+ is excessive. But I'll attribute that to the fact that everybody in the restaurant ordered one. I was excited for the duck fat fries buuuut I felt like I could taste the oil. They were good though. All in all, I liked it. I'll have to try it again with a reservation and get the entire experience. I like the ambiance of the place though. Cute little private rooms throughout. Great for a date!
(3)Ed W.
While traveling for work, I stopped in here because it was raining, and I wanted a beer and a burger. So let me start with the best part of the review - this place has a nice burger. It was not great. The bun was a little dry. The bacon was overpowering of the patty (lots of bacon, which is nice but when there are bacon strips hanging 2-3 inches off in all directions, that's a bit too much for me). The patty was WAY overcooked, as in like zero color and zero flavor. But the ingredients were there to make it good, and I assume whoever was in charge in the kitchen was lacking ability or focus to cook it up well. So I will give the place the benefit of the doubt on the burger (and the fries, which were fine). The beer list is also impressive. No mega-produced, bad-tasting beers here (e.g. Bud Light). Nice selection of west coast brews. The bartenders also know the beers and can describe pretty much everything, plus they will give you a small sample of a beer so you don't waste your money. That's a nice feature. The wings I started out with were the driest wings I have ever had the luxury of trying to eat. Raspberry, jalapeño wings. Nice idea. Fail on execution. Again, see above re whoever was in the kitchen. Took entirely too long to get food for the few number of people eating. The bartender was knowledgable but not really friendly. The decor and interior is a nice idea, to take a historical building and make it into a restaurant. So that's a plus. But I really cannot give it more than 3 stars, because of the decent service, the bad wings, and the way overcooked burger. If I just wanted a good beer, I would definitely return. I don't think I'll eat again.
(3)Lauren M.
A short walk to the Hippodrome or Camden Yards, Alewife is great for getting a bite before or after any event. The architecture and details of the building are great, but it's the extensive list of beers and comfort food that will bring me back again. We arrived before a baseball game and had to wait just a few minutes to get seated. Our server was great and came to check on us during our meal. Overall a great find!
(4)Scott S.
First, the beer. They have 40 very well selected craft taps. Great mix of local, U.S. craft and international beers. Also a great mix of styles. They don't waste any taps on the standard crap beers, so those that don't like craft beers will have to go with a bottle, can or cocktail. Beer highlights for today include Ballast Point Sculpin, Troegs Nugget Nectar, Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, Firestone Walker Union Jack and North Coast Old Rasputin (nitro). Second, the food. I haven't managed to get anything other than the Smoke Burger because it is just about flawless. Brioche bun, duck fat fries, perfectly medium rare (on the rarer side if anything), juicy, a little char. Awesomeness. Third, the atmosphere. For me, this is the perfect bar atmosphere. Very casual, but still nice. Decent sized, beautiful bar. Plenty of tables. It's in an old bank so the building facade is gorgeous and inside there are very high ceilings and huge windows that let in a lot of light. It's pretty much the perfect bar. UPDATE: I wrote this review several months ago, but forgot to post it. I've been back twice since then and it's still awesome and I can also add that the Hop BBQ chicken sandwich is pretty tasty.
(5)Dana F.
Fantastic beer and food selection! Sit at the bar and they'll let you taste the draught beer before you choose what to order. If you like scotch, they have a great selection. They even let us smell each before making a decision. The best was Hedonism from Compass in England. Very hard to find, but very smooth.
(5)Mattzilla M.
I come here a lot because they have awesome bartenders, great food, and delicious beer! It's also near my house and my go-to bar of choice. Thai peanut wings are sweet, not spicy and come with a great dipping sauce. The crab cake platter is solid, comes with a salad and a fried green tomato which is a nice touch. The smoke burger is to die for! The beer selection is off the charts, and they have something for everyone. If they are out of the beer you want ask the bartender to recommend a similar one. They know their stuff. They have a big selection of liquor, some hard to find scotches, and an innovative house cocktail list. The bacon bloody Mary is amazing! The bar was once a bank. It has the original vault out front and has a lot of character on the inside. There is A lot of seating for dining in, but sitting at the bar is better. A lot of people cry on here about not getting service and blah blah blah. This bar is right across the street from the Hippodrome and near the First Mariner Arena. If there is a show that night, a concert, or event they may be busy and do hold reservations on the tables. Keep that in mind. This is a must try for the true beer and ale house lover!
(5)Andrew B.
There is no question that on our recent east coast vacation this was by far and away the best bar we visited. After taking an Uber from another bar to Alewife upon the suggestion of a bartender at yet another bar(I am well versed in bars) we walked in and up some steps into Alewife. The space was awesome! a big open room with tables and a second floor balcony that overlooked the main room. The stained glass windows were made by a former bartender there who now works at the bar we left to go to Alewife. Small word. We sat at the bar. How typical..... What made Alewife so special were the bartenders/servers. They were the people having the most fun in the place! Great conversation about the beer, the place, and a whole bunch of random stuff. My wife and I split an orange with them. How that came about I don't remember but it was a good time. Seriously, if you are in Baltimore go to Alewife and chill at the bar with the awesome people who work there. The taps are pretty great too!
(5)Tracy B.
My boyfriend and I dined here last night before seeing a show at the Hippodrome. We could not get a reservation at the restaurant next door, so decided to go to Alewife instead. It wasn't anything mind-blowing, but we both enjoyed our dinner and it's a good spot for pub style food, and conveniently located directly across from the theater. The Smoke Burger was delicious - really good, thick, juicy, flavorful patty - would recommend! We also ordered the Obligatory Salad, which was large enough to share and tasty. I had a special cocktail from the bar that did not disappoint. I'd dine here again if I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)George T.
5 stars, i'll tell you why. -BEST BURGER in Baltimore: here's the menu desciption----SMOKE BURGER* $15 "An 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli," My mouth waters every time i read the burger components, and I after trying the burger twice already, the it's the real deal. I always get my burger medium and with duck fat fries (which are a couple of extra dollars). The meat portion of the burger it self has been cooked perfectly both times, nice and juicy and slightly red in the middle the way it should be. The meat is made a little undersalted, but if you take a bite with the rest of the toppings, the taste is perfect. BACON is THICK and crispy (could be a bit more crispy). You need to come here soley for the burger. - OTHER stuff to complement your burger I've always gotten the THAI peanut wings. They are standard wings, fried well. The sauce is what makes it unique. homemade Mayo/thousand island based but with a thai kick. Def worth a try while you wait for your burger to cook. SOUP - i had one of the best soups here, this was unexpected. It was a loaded baked potato soup, incredible texture and complex mix of flavors, perfectly salted and spiced. This might have been as good as the burger. My only complaint was that it didn't come with bread. I havne't tried many of the beers and other dishes, but word of mouth and based on what i've tried, the rest of the menu must be and is good. Def come here. OVERALL: get the SMOKEHOUSE BURGER.
(5)Seth G.
After going to the "Poe's Birthday Celebration" at Westminster Hall, food and drink were need. So after a turn or two walking down the street we came across Alewife. Looking at the place we know it would fit the bill (food and drink). The beer selection was awesome (think the "Everything is Awesome" song from the Lego Movie, but with beer). The service was real good. Dinner was very tasty. Yes, the beers were awesome. For desert we had the carrot cake and it was not crazy size (as in a giant slab). I use to work in restaurants for many many moons, I really liked that they only had one desert on the menu at a time. What a great idea and yes, it was also tasty. My only complaint was they had on the Indy at New England playoff game. I fucking hate Indy, since I was raised right and was a Baltimore Colts fan. In the end it did not matter, since New England (no, I am not a fan) kicked the shit out of Indy and there was much rejoicing with more tasty beers (again, think "Everything is Awesome" song from the Lego Movie, but with beer).
(3)Sabiano H.
Eh. Honestly dont know why people are raving about this place. Has a cool barish atmosphere. Service is solid, no complaints. Ordered there smokehouse burger which is supposed to be amazing. Thought it was subpar. Duck fries were delicious but I've had better. Overall 6.9/10 -SaBeast
(3)Kristy W.
First read about Alewife in Food and Wine magazine--decided that was a ringing enough endorsement for me and the hubs to make a journey to Baltimore from DC to eat there (or to "go to the aquarium"). It has lots of great draft beers on the menu and a really creative and interesting menu. The building itself is great--an old bank building gives the space a unique vibe and an interesting feel. We started with a couple beers (duh), and the crab deviled eggs. I had the fish tacos with sweet potato crispies and the hubs had the cuban. Both were great, as were the beers. The server was attentive and friendly, and offered tastes of beers as well as suggestions. I would definitely go back if I was in the area.
(4)Rachelle R.
I had gone to Alewife for the first time about a month ago while on a business trip, and I had a wonderful experience. The vast selection beer was what had drawn us to this place. It is convenient with being within walking distance from the water and other things to do. Our server was well versed on their beer selection and was helpful in recommending new things to try. Aside from the great beer, the food was savory. I would recommend the wild boar sliders, and my friend had ordered their house burger. The burger, also savory was enough for two people. If I make it back out to Baltimore any time soon I will certainly be back.
(4)Erich W.
I was staying at a Inner Harbor Hotel for a conference and was trying to find a non-chain restaurant. The Baltimore Magazine had a write up on Alewife so I decided to give it a try. I was hoping to get crab cakes while I was here in Baltimore. While they were on the menu, after I read Yelp I decided I had to try the Smoked Hamburger with duck fat fries. I was glad I did. Great hamburger and fries especially with the Srichacha aioli dipping sauce. Price was a little on the high side but overall worth it. Beer selection was outstanding as well and they let you try a sample before buying. Would definitely go back
(5)Bill T.
Mother, may I sleep with danger? No, this isn't about the classic Tori Spelling movie* from the 1990's, instead it's about my visit to the Alewife mothership in Baltimore. On several occasions, I've visited the Alewife location in Queens and had quite an enjoyable time. It's even been the site of beer club three times, the most of any establishment. Therefore I was quite excited when planning a trip to Baltimore to meet up with some old college friends, one of them tells me "We're going to Alewife". We pull up outside and I kind of fall getting out of the taxi, but that actually got me introduced to one of the owners/managers of the place. I happened to mention that'd I just been at the location in Queens a couple of days prior and that led to us getting a tour of the restaurant. It's very cool as it's in an old bank and they have a lot of nooks and crannies as well as a very cool private party space on the top floor. The spiral staircase in the back is gorgeous. Anyway, after the tour we were thirsty so we sat down to drink and eat. I had a Belgian sampler and it had very tasty beers on it, the highlight of which was the Stone Cali-Belgique. I liked it so much I ordered a full one. Everyone else enjoyed their beers as well. Food was roundly well-received. Roasted tomato soup was as good as it sounds. And I loved the crabcakes. They were not quite like the standard ones you find in Maryland but they were light and delicious and I could eat them all day. To get back to my opening line, my visit to the mothership was spectacular, but it would be dangerous if I lived in Baltimore because I would be there all the time and would probably just have my paycheck direct deposited to their account. Good food, awesome beer, nice staff....this place rocks. ______________________________________ * imdb.com/title/tt0117092
(5)Logan N.
I'm a fan of this place because it has spunk and it was routy! Love the crowd. Food is decent and their cocktails are delicious ($8). It was only a few blocks from my hotel and they open till 2am (but the kitchen closes several before then. Smoke burger: 4 stars for the soggy bun at the end of the meal, but still delicious.
(4)Carey M.
Came her Saturday night with the hubs. The place has a great draught beer selection but the food sucks and is over priced. I ordered the smoked burger (per the waiter it won best burger in baltimore)...um, not so much. There was nothing special to it, had no taste and probably should have not won any award in my opinion. The hubs got the airliner chicken for 20 bux which was just a piece of chicken in broth and veggies...20 dollars! Come on! Come here for beer but eat somewhere else!
(2)Ceirra A.
The Cajon pot pie blew my mind!!! Very good everyone at our table was satisfied with their meals!
(5)Sarah K.
I liked the atmosphere. Their beer selection is very impressive, and our food was decent. Prices seemed a little steep for eating at a bar, but the selection of food was definitely beyond your typical bar food. There were several interesting items. I got the catfish tacos. They weren't bad, but they weren't that flavorful either.
(4)Melissa W.
Oops, can't believe I didn't write a review for this place yet. I've now eaten here 3 times. Twice I had the Smoke Burger (15) and once I had the grilled cheese & tomato soup (?). Both were great. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the atmosphere. It's an old bank! The safe room is still there! WONDERFUL craft beers on tap. I think they have about 20 rotating taps. AND THEY DON'T SERVE JUNK. Halle - ('scuse the language) EFFING - lujah! The last time I was there a man asked for a Coors Light and the bartender (politely) informed him that they don't serve any of the mass market beers in their esteemed location. Score. My burger the 2nd time was not as good, which is why I removed a star. The bacon was super unpredictable, even on the same burger! One end of one piece was like ... raw. Okayyy, not raw, but very, very lightly cooked. The other end was burnt to a crisp. I don't even know how that happened. Not a huge problem, I just pulled that piece off. Staff have always been super kind & knowledgeable about the beer & food. All desserts are made in-house! So great. They are priced accordingly though. Met the owner the 2nd time I was there. Super cool guy. Will definitely be back. Oh - they have comedy like once a week too.
(4)Nicole E.
Order the burger!! The fish tacos are also amazing. Heck, everything I've had here is great. And the beer selection is one of the best in Baltimore. Max's in Fells may have a few more - but you won't miss the extras when you have so many quality ones to choose from. They are printed on a menu and written on a huge chalkboard, both of which are frequently updated as kegs run out. This is a great spot pre-Baseball game or pre-show at the Hippodrome. Whenever I have out of town guests staying on the West side of the harbor, I always recommend that they come here. The venue (an old bank) is beautiful and historic - it gives you a glimpse of old Baltimore. There is trivia here one night a week (unsure of the day but call to check). A few friends and I were dining when it started and were welcomed to play. It was both challenging and a lot of fun. We won... And we're able to cash in our prize (a gift card) on the spot for free shots/beers as many team members were visiting from out of town and wouldn't be able to return soon enough to use it. The boyfriend and I also came here for New Years a few years ago and it was a ton of fun! There was no cover with free passed hors d'oeurves and champagne toast. We're hoping this is available again this year because it was a great time!
(5)Vanessa H.
Went here last night on a whim. When we walked up, we were shocked at how busy it was for a wednesday at 630pm, but got in line anyway. When we finally made it to the hostess stand, the hostess seemed to be attempting to get us to leave. She was sheepish, talking under her breath, and doing that odd, no eye contact, speaking out of the side of her mouth thing. You know what I'm talking about. Anyway, she told us several times that the wait was at least 45min since we didn't have a reservation. We asked her to put us on the list, and we would head to the bar in the meantime. After this interaction, we realized there was a show and her attempts to move us along were because of possible time restraints. Had she just asked "are you going to a show" the entire exchange could've been much less awkward. Cut to the bar. We got seats right away, and the bartenders were fantastically attentive. I asked for something on the beer board, but it had been sold out. The girls were spot on with their suggestions for alternatives and let us taste anything we wanted. The beer selection here is top notch. There really is something for every beer drinker. I even tried the cider which was delicious. Disclaimer: if your idea of a good beer is a Bud or Miller Lite, just keep walking. About a half an hour into our wait, we were seated. The seats are tight, but not so tight that your conversation is competing with your neighbors. We started with the calamari. Love that they kept tentacles, not just a plate of rings. The chipotle aioli it was served with was tasty. Not too spicy or smokey, just right. We both ordered the Smoke Burger, medium. The menu says this burger takes longer to cook, and I honestly don't know how long it took. We were having such a nice time enjoying each others company. The atmosphere here is really relaxing and the staff is all about keeping your drink full, but not being an annoyance. ( I did notice that some tables were quite upset about how long it was taking for their meals to come out. Perhaps this isn't the best "before show" dinner place. ) So, the burgers. My medium was a bit more well than medium. I imagine is has to be in order to get the middle cooked at all. This burger is big. Overwhelmingly large. The bacon was so well done it just shattered after a bite. It was clearly bacon that had been made hours in advance. This burger is ok. Just ok. I really am curious as to where people are eating before they come here and declare this the best burger ever. Speaking of the best ever, the duck fat fries? They're fries. Nothing more, nothing less. Our waiter, Gabe was great. Friendly, attentive, kept us happy, but wasn't constantly on top of us. I don't know that it's a dinner place for us. Im open to trying some other dishes on the menu, but I wouldn't order the smoke burger again and I cant see us making reservations to run back for another dinner dining experience. We would definitely come back for beers and apps at the bar though.
(3)Amy C.
VERY good food and drinks. Unfortunately, our waitress wasn't that great. We came here for my cousin's birthday at the last minute when the original place where she made a reservation fell through. We were able to nab two tables for our large party. Before we everyone in our party arrived, the waitress kept pressuring us to order food even though we had already ordered drinks. Then after we placed our dinner orders, she messed up two of them (including mine). She didn't seem to enjoy having to serve a large party on that Saturday night, and we didn't enjoy having to give her gratuity.
(3)Brittany S.
Before the Kanye concert at the Baltimore Arena, we decided to walk in and grab some beers and grub. As we are walking up about 10 police cars pull up, tackle some guy and arrest him. LOL good ol' Bmore. Just a coincidence that this happened right in front of Alewife, or maybe foreshadowing that we should've kept walking to another restaurant? I don't know... It was Valentine's Day and the hostess had somebody cancel right before we walked in so we got a table. A little surprised the place was all booked up for Valentine's Day. The service was... well what service? I have no idea who are server was, somebody new came to our table every maybe 15 minutes. The ciders were OK, the Hop Betty was interesting but very hoppy. We ordered the oysters as an appetizer and they were the worst I've ever day. The fried oysters themselves were good but the butter corn sauce was just... why!? Why would you do that?! We saw everybody order the burger so we ordered one to share since it was huge and came with fries. The table next to use sent both of their burgers back because they were undercooked. We order our burger medium and it came out burnt and dry. That's all I could taste even over the sauce, the bun, even the bacon! All I tasted was BURNT. The duck fat fries were the best part but who cared at that point. For 2 people it was $75 (including tip) down the drain.
(2)Meredith E.
I love a good ol night of drinking at the Alewife. The bartenders and servers are awesome. On Mondays there is trivia hosted by a local theatre professional. Alewife always has an epic beer list. I love trying something new and delicious every time. On my latest visit, I finally tried the food and was severely disappointed. The entire menu sounded fantastic, but the taste was not there. The smoke burger was bland and the duck fat fries were cold. The bun had a 'should have been tossed out yesterday' feel. The fish tacos were the fishiest of all fish taco I have ever tried. I could not even finish one. It could be the rare evil fish they use. Seriously inedible. Overall, I love this place, but will never order food again.
(4)Jessica K.
I ordered food for to-go from here when I stayed at a hotel around the corner for a work meeting. The bartender was friendly and attentive and on the random Monday night I was there, there was trivia which kept me occupied while I waited for the salad I ordered. (And good thing too because my salad took a while.) They have a pretty substantial list of draft beers and a lot of amazing whiskey just waiting to be drank. I, however, sipped on water while I waited for my Alewife salad topped with a crab cake. After I got it, I speed-walked back to my hotel room to find that plastic silverware didn't accompany the salad. I didn't fret, got some from the front desk of my hotel and feasted. The salad was very fresh and the balsamic vinegarette was great. Though the star of this salad was the crab cake (which when added made the salad $24). It had minimal seasoning and a ton of crab. I saved it for after i ate all the greens. From what I could tell, this is one of the only cool places that is opened after typical work hours downtown. It was huge and pretty busy for a Monday night. Overall, though things weren't perfect, I'd totally go back and chill, play trivia and drink all their beer and whiskey. The salad was good so i'd try something else. It might have been a bit pricey but I am going to expense my dinner and well, Baltimore is a city after all. Worth your while!
(4)Scott P.
Good healthy food and if you want a burger, they got that covered too. Arugula salad, black bean burger, Alewife salad with grilled yardbird all very tasty. Fries were fresh also.Loved the music selection. Great service too. I'm a music producer and vintage Yo La Tengo, New Pornographers, Decemberists etc just wonderful.
(4)Brent F.
Not good in any way. Upon arrival we were informed of the 8 beers that they ran out of and one of the dinner specials. Ordered the Brussel sprouts which were limp and not impressive, sitting in a pool of balsamic. I originally wanted to order the burger, but after seeing how huge it was, decided to go with the Airline Chicken which was supposedly the "chef's choice." The dish was $20 so I expect it to be pretty nice size and tasty. Unfortunately it was one very small chicken breast sitting in a bowl of broth with a bit of sausage (a small bit) and a few other veggies. The flavor was overly salty and unimpressive. I felt like I was at a Ruby Tuesdays but paying twice as much. My wife had the fish tacos which were just ok, not great. Were interested in dessert but they only had plain cheesecake (waitress said they aren't a dessert place and suggested Cheesecake Factory at the harbor). Don't waste your time here!
(1)Russell P.
We heard about the Alwwife from the owner at the Air B&B at which we stayed -- very glad she recommended it! The atmosphere is all wood panelling and brass rails -- as a former bank should be! -- the main room was a bit noisy but there were quieter nooks available, and we took one, right under the vast chalkboard of beer offerings. We tried a few local ones we hadn't heard of before and were not disappointed! The food was great -- the "Smoke Burger" fabulous as advertised, with so much flavor, even just in a piece of the bun (one of our party, being off gluten, shared 'round his with the rest of us), that you just couldn't resist. The crab cakes were excellent if a tad pricey (well, "Market Price," what can you say?); we also tried some spicy oysters and shrimp with gumbo, both delicious. With the atmosphere, food, and drink all very congenial, our party of five went home very satisfied. I'm sure we'll go here again!
(4)Beth G.
Came here with some friends. I had beers which were good. My partner ordered the crab devilled eggs. That morning he was vomiting and had terrible diarrhea. This continued throughout the day. He was not getting better and ended up going to the hospital for IV fluids. My partner does not drink and had no alcohol. I am not sure if the eggs had gone bad or what but here is a warning to never order devilled eggs from a bar!
(2)Zeph D.
The smoke burger is a work of art for your tongue and mouth. The smell, sight and physical touch alone can't describe what takes place when you bite into it. IT IS AMAZING. Yeah it's a burger... but it should be in another class or category really. Like Steak Scultpure or something. The fries are dope too. I really got a crush on this burger. I won't say it's the best burger EVER but I will say it's the best burger I ever had. There's ground beef stuck between two pieces of bread then there's THIS masterpiece. Eating it is like watching an orchestra play live or seeing Circue du Soliell in person (if you're into that type of stuff.)
(5)Nay P.
Bottom line up front. Come here for the smoke burger and beer or you will most likely be disappointed. NOT for anything else one the menu, AND NOT for the service! Choose this establishment for a going away party for two of my co-workers. Wanted to order ahead since we only have a limited time for lunch. I brought over the orders and specifically told Matt we needed everything ready by 11:30 AM - 11:40 AM. We get there and have pre-made name tags for our food which was nice but the food did not come out until 11:50 AM - 12:00 PM and later. Everything was brought out sporadically. Everyone who got the burger including myself liked it however others who ordered anything else were not happy. Kind of put a damper on the occasion. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
(3)Ashley M.
Great food!! This place has a great selection of beers! The food was really really good! Great service and the girls were friendly. I would recommend the shrimp and grits(that's what I had) it was perfect proportions for someone that didn't want to over eat, and it was just enough to last me through the night. Along with a few beers ;-)
(4)Christine K.
I've only been for drinks and I don't think it's anything special. Beer selection is decent for the area and the cocktail list is short but diverse. I would not recommend asking for any cocktails that require more than three very basic ingredients. I ordered a drink off the menu and the bartender swapped out rye for bourbon without asking me or letting me know. I noticed and mentioned that it would have been nice to know before making my drink, and all I got was shrug. If you keep your expectations low because you came here because it's convenient, then you'll be happy.
(2)Sarcofago N.
Modern, fake, Tourist trap, bad frat vibe, in a more-dangerous-looking type area than normal dangerous-looking areas in Baltimore. Has a fake upscale feel with a lot of beer selections (which are constantly tapped out and not good selections in the first place: IPAs. Seeming newbie barkeeps. Cocktails and food sounded good on paper but tasted low rent. This place might impress grandparents who've never been to a big city and were desperate enough to get out of their car in a ghetto Go to Hampden if you want to be around real scensters and foodies. AVOID
(2)Teri H.
Went here for lunch with a coworker and we split the alewife salad and the smoke burger. Alewife Salad: Baby Greens, Grilled & Chilled Asparagus, St. Pete's Blue, Candied Cashews, Spiced Granny Smith Apples, Balsamic. I felt all these ingredients were pretty sparse and I did not see any cashews but otherwise the salad has a good flavor just wish there were more ingredients. Smoke Burger: 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun, Duck Fat Fries. Burger was cooked perfectly and delicious just wish the bacon was cooked more. It was pretty limp. This place is close to the Hippodrome and is def worth a visit as they offer craft beers as well.
(3)Kim K.
As cool as it gets in Baltimore. I am not one to hit pubs, but this place is special. Loved the music they were playing: Echo & the Bunnymen, Jesus & Mary Chain, New Order, etc. ok, I am showing my age here, but the crowd was very diverse. The service was fantastic and the architecture is very cool- be sure to walk up to the women's rest room! I had the spicy pumpkin soup and their famous burger. Both were delicious. Highly recommend for service, atmosphere & food.
(5)Pat M.
Alewife remains a very strong place to grab a quality beer. However, the last two times I've visited the food has been merely so-so, and last night the service was disappointing. What have they done to the shrimp and grits?! Once upon a time it was a delectable bowl of creamy goodness, with large shrimp arranged around the edges. Now it's three stacks of fried grits patties, with smaller shrimp and a sauce atop each. Not impressed. Meanwhile, I've had their semi-legendary smokeburger my last two visits, and it's just been good but not great. As for last night's service, there appeared to be just one waitress working the tables, and she really didn't seem to be into it. We ordered food, yet no salt and pepper was brought to the table. And we had numerous extended waits at various points in the meal. I'll be back for sure, but likely just for the craft beer selection.
(3)Jennifer E.
Baltimore is my home away from home for four days of every year when I visit for Maryland Deathfest. In the past few years (out of five, so far) that I've gone, I've hit up Alewife for either food or drinks. They get really crowded around the weekend that I go since it appears that a lot of graduations fall around Memorial Day weekend. Even when they are busy I tend to get pretty decent service. The food is what I would describe as upscale bar food. I've tried their burger, steak and fish tacos with local catfish so far. Everything always tastes delicious and fresh. I would also recommend getting the duck fat fries. Even if your entree doesn't come with them, you should definitely get a basket to split with the table. So good. Their beer selection is superb and at times they even offer flights (not always though). I can always count on getting a fantastic local brew to try out. I would certainly say that when I'm in Baltimore I will continue to go back as I haven't tried anything I haven't liked. Food is good and the prices are crazy considering the quality. I also appreciate that our server complimented us metal heads for being actually nicer and better customers then most of the tourists she encounters. Can't judge a book by it's cover, ya know?
(4)Jackie D.
My daughter and I were here after a show at the Hippodrome late one Friday night in December. Naturally, it was packed. We had drinks at the busy bar while we waited for a table. Our table was comfortably spaced and the servers were attentive. We shared the shrimp and grits for an appetizer. Thought they were fine. Having read other reviews, I had to try the Smoke Burger (and I rarely order burgers). I was not disappointed. It was delicious and huge! Plenty leftover for the next day. My daughter had the wild boar sliders. She liked them (so did her brother when he at the leftovers the next day.) I thought they were okay, but they had more of a meatball flavor to me. I wouldn't hesitate to return next time I see a show at the Hippodrome.
(4)Angela M.
I was tasked with finding a dinner spot near the convention center that would be tasty but casual enough to allow baby and stroller in tow. After reading the other reviews that mentioned the former bank building, I vaguely recalled coming here the last time that I was in town for a convention (2008), but only for drinks and appetizers, and vaguely remembered a positive experience, so decided to try it. We arrived around 6 on a Wednesday, and while the front room had a decent crowd, we were the first in the back. We struggled a little with the beer list, since our group don't tend toward the craft beer scene, and they were changing out several kegs since it was Craft Beer Week. The server was patient with us, bringing several samples to make sure we got the right pint. I had the Oysters Chesapeake and the Alewife salad, while the others ordered the peach quesadilla with chicken and the catfish tacos. The Oysters were just ok. The tepid temperature did little for the taste and nothing for the texture. The sauce made the breading of the fried oyster slightly soggy. The greens were wilted. The salad was crisp and fresh. The tacos were the hit of the night. Decent experience, and I would return, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend.
(3)Josh A.
I went to Alewife on Valentine's Day for a romantic dinner with my date, and while dinner was fine, and the space beautiful, the multiple TVs and very loud 90's grunge music really soured the tone. Not sure why they thought nonstop Nirvana and Bush was the was to go on a night when there were many couples there for dates, and the music was so loud you could barely talk to your table partner. Dinner itself was good for the most part. We started with the special vanilla-infused lobster appetizer, which was a little sweet for my taste (it reminded me of cake batter with lobster in it), but not terrible. My date had the fish tacos, which neither of us particularly loved (there was a slightly off taste about them that neither of us could identify), and I had the crab cakes with fried green tomato and creamed corn, which was excellent. We finished with the very tasty chocolate mousse cake. Over all, it was a little hit or miss, but the service was excellent. Our waitress, though very busy, was attentive and thoughtful with her recommendations. Alewife is great if you want to grab an interesting beer with some buddies (their beer list is truly phenomenal), but not great for a romantic date...or if you want to have a conversation. This strikes me as a little off since their decor and menu seem to want to be a fine dining restaurant, but the sound level and ambiance directly counteract that.
(3)C G.
Went before going to see a show at the Hippodrome with my sister around 5:45- Told the server we would be there for a while. When it was time to order, we asked for Brussels sprouts as an appetizer, and then the smokehouse burgers as a meal. We also asked for an arugula salad with chicken to be brought out later around 7 when our third party arrived. At 6:20ish, the Brussels sprouts, the burgers, and the salad without chicken came out at the same time. What is the point of asking for an appetizer and asking for a meal to come out later if the server isn't going to follow directions? I've worked as a server before. I know it's simply a matter of entering what you want in the system (appetizer) then entering the other meals to be cooked about 5 minutes later (some POS systems even allow you to enter it with the appetizer and put a hold on it so it wouldn't be sent to the kitchen right away) Our server clearly didn't care. The Brussels sprouts were terrible. We sent them back along with the salad. The server pretended that she didn't know we wanted chicken on it and we didn't want the salad out right away. She then presumed to ignore us for the rest of the meal. I had to get up and go to the bar to get napkins and I had to get up to ask her for water, which she gave me attitude and didn't even bother bringing us water (continued talking to other servers and going to other tables) On top of the absolutely terrible service, the prices were a little ridiculous (3 bucks for an iced tea ?) and the burger wasn't special at all. The couple next to us were complaining about the service as well. Matter of fact, the tables surrounding us looked unhappy with empty drinks. I won't be back.
(1)Virginia B.
Lots of poor reviews but my experience was pretty good! Huge beer selection and best black bean burger I've ever had! My only complaint would be service was slow for the place being empty and the menu was too small. And i like a small menu.
(4)M K.
I work near here, so have come here for multiple post-work dinner/happy hour. I've had their burgers on several occasion, and it's pretty tasty. It's a simple burger with nothing too crazy inside of it. The bun is nicely toasted, meat is quite juicy and tasty. The prices can be a little steep though. Overall, a great place for a burger.
(3)Deborah N.
Bartender gave great service. She noticed I wasn't eating my burger, which was undercooked and cold. She had the kitchen make me a new one. Not stick the old one in the microwave, but make a whole new one. Plus this place was recommended bu my dad, who is even fussier than me! Did not drink any alcohol but others all liked their drinks!
(4)Michele L.
This place is beautiful but with beers averaging $7 and $8 a pint (with many at $10-11), I can't justify spending money in a place with such a rude staff. The hostess in particular was nasty to us, and made us feel like a nuisance. It's convenience to the Hippodrome makes it hard to pass up before a show, but I'll be hard pressed to go back.
(2)Tunaidi A.
Everyone raves about Alewife's Smoke Burger. While the Smoke Burger is good, juicy, tender, etc., I'm not convinced that it's a burger worth $15. I've had better burgers before that really pack a bang for less. That being said, service is friendly and attentive and the calamari is a decent play. Parking is scarce, but not impossible.
(3)Mac O.
Alewife exudes a really lovely gastropub-y vibe here, with its two-story, mirror-backed bar and large, arched windows. Husband and I found an exceptional draught beer selection on our visit, including St. Bernardus Abt 12, Dogfish Saison du Buff, Houblon Chouffe, Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, and Allagash Tripel. I couldn't resist sampling the Imperial Scoville from local Laurel brewery Jailbreak, a double IPA brewed with "hot ass peppers." I loved how the subtle heat complemented the bitter hops. To wash down the beers, husband and I each ordered the Alewife Salad: baby greens, grilled asparagus, St. Pete's blue (I think our salads actually had goat cheese instead), candied cashews, spiced Granny Smith apples, and balsamic dressing. We also both added a crab cake which, while steep at a $15 charge, was truly impressive. The lumps of crab were huge, the filler minimal, and the sear to the outside gave the cakes a nice golden crust. The salad plus the crab cake make a perfectly filling light lunch. Our bartender was excellent as well. She was happy to offer us little tastes of any beers we were unsure about, and she made intelligent recommendations based on our preferences and the brews we'd already ordered. We were quite pleased to find a watering hole with such a diverse and impressive draught selection this close to Camden Yards (a short, half-mile walk straight down Eutaw Street). Alewife makes for a refreshing change from the mob-scene of sports bars right next to the Park and now occupies a slot on our list of Balmer favorites.
(4)Deb W.
My friend says this place is a dive....I disagree. The place has a great ambiance, high ceilings and awesome windows. Those duck fat fries were pretty good. The black bean burger wasn't great. It lacked flavor and fell apart easily. My friend had the Smoke Burger and regular fries. I think his selection was much better. The fries were relish and the burger bite that I had hit the spot (we were a bit hung over). We sat at the bar and there were only 2 other tables. I was impressed with the beer selection, and gather that on weekend nights it becomes a fun bar. There is a balcony upstairs, which would be a great place to be on a Saturday night!
(4)Sonya L.
We went to Alewife for dinner on Saturday night with a big group to celebrate our friends moving away. We arrived early for our reservation and the hostess didn't greet us but said "come back at 8". As we approached the bar we were treated like we were in the way by a particular waitress when we were just trying to walk through. We went to the bar and waited and while we waited the bartender was friendly and helpful with questions. Once we sat at our table the waiter listed everything that the restaurant was out of (at 8pm on a Saturday). The problem with this was we ordered other stuff off of the food/drink menu he had to keep coming back to tell us they were out of it. The drink menu is extensive and looked great so we were having trouble ordering. As we ordered and asked questions about drinks he really couldn't give us any information on any of the drinks. I ordered a burger and I ordered it medium. It came out raw. I like meat more on the rare side so I went with it but as I got to the middle I had to take out the entire middle of the burger. The burger also completely lacked flavor. Their duck fat fries did have good flavor but came out cold. We also split the artichokes and they were decent. They tasted like fried dough. The majority of the table said their food was "okay". My husband did get one of their beers and it was delicious. We all also really liked the cocktails on their menu. After dinner we went to the bar to hang out with our friends for a few more minutes because it was a going away get together and we didn't know when we'd see each other again. As we stood at the full bar a rude waitress made it known several times that we were in her way by yelling in our ears, "COMING THROUGH". I found this so annoying and it really was making it hard for me to enjoy spending time with my friends. We had no where else to go and were trying our very best to stay out of her way. We weren't drunk or being obnoxious. She clearly just doesn't enjoy her job and felt the need to take it out on customers. This was also the same waitress that made us feel like we were in her way when we were walking through to the bar area initially. I gave this place 2 stars because their service is unwelcoming and unknowledgeable, food is bland and drinks/beer are the only thing this place has going for it. We will not be returning.
(2)Kristin D.
Have been here multiple times before the theater. Make reservations. Food is consistently good. From fish tacos to their salad to what I think is best on menu their burger with duck fat fries although cook time on burger can be a little slow. Good service everyone e is pkeasant. And always fun to be in an old converted bank. Not fancy but a fun casual place no pretentious attitude here.
(4)Will D.
The Wild Boar Sliders were the most disgusting and vomit inducing dinner I have ever forcibly consumed. After hours of dry heaving and hydrating myself with Gatorade I mustered the strength to write this review. Only in comparison to a slab of meat burnt to cinder perfection and then lathered with an oceans amount of salt can one find a similar "meal". Not only did they rob my taste buds but they gave me only three golf sized sliders covered in carrots with a side of a few fries for my arm and a leg payment of $15. I can only recommend this meal to masochists and those who desire look a likes of coal chunks to put in their children's stockings this coming Christmas. - Cameron Dorr
(1)Rebekah T.
When I first heard the name Alewife, I was intrigued by the old bank turned into a gastro pub/ alehouse . It didn't take much to convince my guy to stop in for lunch. We love places like this. I was instantly impressed by the old bank that still holds so much of the character. The old front doors turned into a window booth caught my eye. We sat at the bar, which was the former front bank counter. The bartender was very nice. He knew a lot about the beer and cocktails. We had a great conversation the entire time, which made it fun. My guy went with a sampler which was made up of beers he had not yet tried before. On his recommendation, I tried the Berre Leimonad - cucumber & basil infused death's door gin, freshly squeezed lemon & orange juice, crushed berry blend, simple syrup, rocks. It was really great! I want to make my own infused gin now. We already knew what we wanted, the Smoke Burger with the Duck Fat Fries! The 11oz House Ground Ribeye, Brisket, Skirt & Filet of Beef Burger, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere Cheese, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun IS AMAZING. It is by far the BEST BURGER I've had and I have been around..... The Smoke Burger with the Duck Fat Fries were so very decadent. We split the plate and were both very pleased with the burger.The Duck Fat fries are the icing on the cake, so flavorful and nothing like I've tried before. We were in burger heaven, After another beer or two, we had to pull ourselves away from Alewife. It's one of my favorite places and lunches in Baltimore. I don't think that I'll forget that burger easily, as it's now set the bar for burgers in my book.
(5)Lisa K.
Went to Alewife for dinner when I was in Baltimore a few weeks back. Our party of 3 were seated after a couple minutes of confusion waiting at the empty podium with a sign that wasn't sure if it wanted to say 'seat yourself' or 'please wait to be seated'. The waitress informed us of the specials they had that day along with a list of local beers that would be accompanied with a free beer glass, however, they ran out of glasses....lame. We ordered the asparagus appetizer and there was really nothing about it that stood out taste wise, it could have easily accompanied my entree. I ordered the short rib dinner and it was also just an average dish. The beer BBQ sauce was decent, the cornbread was a bit dry and the portions were a tad small for $26 a plate. One thing that irked me was that the short rib dish was my 3rd choice since some of the options on the menu they ran out of or were"no longer on the menu"....they just hadn't updated it. I enjoyed the pub atmosphere of Alewife but wish I could have tried the dishes that had appealed to me initially.
(3)Daphne H.
Good local bar to get a drink after a show at the hippodrome. They have a good beer list. The duck fat fries are a worthwhile treat to go with a glass of wine or cold beer.
(3)Rebecca G.
Alewife has a lot of reviews online, and many are very positive. It's been recommended to us many times, and we've heard that their burger is one of the best around, so decided to finally try it. No lie, the pictures for this review have been sitting in a folder labeled "downtown bad burger" for a little over a year, out of procrastination and avoidance of writing a bad review. We hate writing bad reviews, we really do. We'd rather have awesome meals all the time and have to complain about making hard choices between great restaurants. Unfortunately, sometimes we have a meal that isn't great. I sat on this one for a while, in case we went back to give them another chance, or someone talked me out of disliking this food. But that didn't happen, so here we go. His plate: Smoke burger - An 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Duck Fat Fries Her plate: Grilled Skirt Steak - 7oz Snake River Farms Kobe Skirt Steak (ordered rare), Stone Smoked Porter Demi Glace, Smoked Sweet Potato Mash, Grilled Asparagus The smoke burger has a note that it takes a little longer to prepare than other items. Well, that's fine with us - we have no problem waiting. So long as the other entrees don't suffer in quality. Timing doesn't bother us (as much as it definitely bothers some diners) - either bring both at once, having fired the steak much later than the burger; or bring them at different times. Just please don't make the food quality and temperature suffer. It's not hard to time a skirt steak that's ordered rare - it cooks for practically no time. Pull the burger, and as it starts to rest, fire the steak. That's all. The asparagus was the best part of my plate. The sweet potato mash didn't taste smoked, and was bland. The skirt steak was overcooked, closer to well done than anything else, making it chewy and really kinda terrible. It was also underseasoned, and the demi glace was gloppy and had no hint of smoke flavor. D's burger was also underseasoned, which is a little amazing considering the smoked burger, two cheeses, bacon, caramelized onion, and chipotle aioli - that should be lots of great flavors. But, chewy bacon, not well-melted cheese, blah beef, and missing-in-action aioli don't add up to good flavors. The duck fat fries don't even compare to those at Salt - bland and served at room temperature. The place was moderately busy - not crazy, but lots of tables. We chatted with the table of four next to us, at which two people had ordered the burger and were also not enjoying it. Maybe it was an off night? We love the space in here, and the beer menu, so maybe we'll end up here again for appetizers, but we've had much better elsewhere. The service wasn't bad, but nobody ever came back to check on how our food was until quite a while after it had arrived, so we didn't get to give feedback about the temperature the steak was cooked to, or sauce for the burger.
(2)Kerri M.
I like the look of the interior, it's pretty cool. I've been here twice and both times I got the grilled cheese and tomato soup. Scrumptious, I say! Also, my date got the burger both times and seemed to enjoy it. I like the variety of beers on tap, the main reason I come here, to be honest. What I don't like, it's kinda loud in there and the service is a bit slow.
(3)Scarlett H.
I like to think of this place as the local hideyhole of deliciousness. It's a very ambient and classy place, despite having a bar section and TVs, but it's got the dark lighting and dark paneled wood and a lovely cozy atmosphere. Drinks are served in all sorts of interesting glasses and cups (water in Mason jars) if you didn't get enough of the hipster decorations. I came with a big group, and they are very accommodating (the next table over had 16 people), even when 4 of our crew never showed up. The servers are very attentive and the food is great. I personally vouch for the fish tacos. The pork sliders are not bad, the smoke burger is a fairly good burger (apparently better if you order it medium ish, but I like them well done and that probably ruins the taste haha), duck fat fries are also amazing (definitely get the aioli, don't settle for ketchup), and the pork shank is not particularly unique (standard shank..what can I say). What they do have is a huge beer selection--they carry a lot of foreign beers and it's a great place to try your taste bud. I had the Frambozen (belgium raspberry tart) - excellent for those who want a bit of fruit but doesn't take away from the alcohol nor does it drown itself in sugar.
(4)Erik H.
Great place for date night or a spot to grab some good brew. Alewife imperial Porter is a beer you'll want to try
(4)Rob P.
2.5 stars. I'd maybe come back here for drinks if someone insisted on it; but will never return for food. Here's the breakdown: Beer: 4-stars. 40 beers on tap. The selection is pretty good and prices are OK. Food: 2-stars. The smoke burger has got to be one of the most overrated things I have ever tasted. C'mon, you made a bacon cheeseburger with smoked Gouda. The one I ate was charred on the outside and cold on the inside. Hardly a decent "medium" cook. If this were just a $10 burger on a menu at a bar, I'd write it off as crappy bar food. But this is supposed to be the "signature" item here? Not good. Service: 1-star. Service started off OK. Our sever took our drink and food orders. She delivered the drinks and then we never saw her again. Someone else brought out our food and we sat there and ate with empty glasses. Then we sat for another 10 minutes after our meal waiting for her to bring out a check. She never showed. When I have to go get someone to let me pay and leave, you have failed massively in the service department. Apparently our server had left for the night. No one told us this or made any attempt to wait on us after that. Too bad for Alewife because we would have ordered at least one more round with dinner and were planning on sticking around at the bar afterward to explore the draft list. But you don't want our money? That's fine, plenty of other bars will happily take our money.
(2)Michael M.
You haven't been here yet??? What are you waiting for!!! Smoke Burger.. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!! GREAT Gastropub and always friendly service. This has got to be one of the best places in Baltimore hands down.
(5)Vinnie A.
The burger and duck fat fries were amaaaazing!
(5)T O.
Service wasn't great. Had to seek out our server a couple of times. She ended up just disappearing and we got handed off to another server. I've been here one other time and the burger was pretty good. Though I do like my burgers well done my friends who ordered theirs medium rare also got burgers that were well done. Which was super disappointing since I had hyped up this burger to them so much. Fries are fine. Nothing to get excited about. Their beer selections were decent though twice I ordered two different beers they were out of both. My friends ran into the same problem. I'd probably stop in for a beer if I was ever in the neighborhood but won't go out of my way. Service and beer menu needs attention asap. Kitchen may need to re-train on cooking temperatures?
(3)Lauren A.
Heard about their duck fat fries so I ordered their smoke burger to go. Atmosphere was cool. Parking is hard to find. Service was great. The burger and fries were good, but not five star. Plenty of substance but rather bland. Overall good experience.
(4)Ben S.
Great food and TERRIBLE customer service. At the end of one of the workers shifts, they physically pushed me out of their way and stepped on my shoe. It's a shame, because with better staff it could be a stellar restaurant.
(3)Carrie R.
Really yummy locally sourced food and a chill atmosphere. Would recommend the duck fat fries!
(4)G H.
This place came highly recommended so I dined here with business associates on a Tuesday night. Made reservation for 7 but arrived at 630 and the gentleman at the door immediately seated us in the back room, which was great because it was very busy. Has an extensive beer list but the first one I tried to order on tap was out. The local Full Tilt I ordered was good. I opted for the cajun pot pie which was very tasty and spicy with shrimp, crab, rice and andouille, but rather small. Associate had the airliner chicken which she also said was good but there wasn't much to it. My other associate had the smoke burger which was huge with a large amount of fries. Service was pretty good, we had both a waiter and waitress which was odd. Looks like a very old building, so it was very loud inside, which I expected, and fine with me, as it's a bar, but if you're looking for quiet dining this isn't your place. As I said, this was highly recommended, but there's nothing here that I experienced that merited the recommendation. It wasn't bad, but nothing out of this world.
(3)Lauren M.
Please management, take yourself off of the "late night" food listings. Your kitchen closes at 11:30.
(1)Kathy R.
Reservations tonight at 630. Noted has tickets to show across the street when making the reservation, as requested. Table wasn't ready til 640. No big deal. Waited an hour for dinner, had to snarf it down to get to the show in time. No apologies, just excuses. Food was good but no time to really enjoy it. Really really disappointing.
(3)George C.
Came in for an early dinner on a Sunday night. Alewife is in a pretty cool building. High ceilings, random balcony overlooking the dining room, lots of art work, etc... Just a funky old building. I ordered the fish tacos but they were out of them so I went with the boar sliders. They were flavorful but a little over cooked and on the dry side. The deal breaker for me was the buns used for the sliders. Instead of the buns being slightly toasted and chewy they were hard and on the crunchy side. It was a bummer. CRUNCH with every bite. My wife ordered the burger and it was cooked perfect and tasty. Her bun wasn't over toasted and it was a really good burger. They have a huge beer selection and the cocktail list was solid. Our server was nice. He knew the menu well. Especially when it came to the beer list. No dessert?!?! What the heck! I asked for a dessert menu and our server said they didn't have one. Why is having a couple of dessert items on the menu such a pain in the ass? I don't get it. Lame. I don't get to Baltimore often but I would eat here again. Not anytime soon because I have other places to explore first. Maybe when I come back they'll have dessert?
(3)Debra S.
Loved the atmosphere but out of the 3 Smoky Burgers ordered for the table 3 had cold fries and my burger was luke warm but I didn't want to wait for the to warm it up so I settled for that and they got new fries for us. My friend ordered the pork shank and it also came out very cold and he returned it but didn't get his meal back for 15 more minutes. When I asked the waiter what was up with this cold food he said " I have no idea / control over the kitchen".... I will be steering anyone I know away from this place Poor food and customer service.
(1)Kevin K.
Cavernous space, dark wood everywhere. The front room's too large and feels like an empty chuch. Bar service is friendly and prompt without being intrusive. Similar in size but well below Max's and OLaR for "best beer-lists in Bmore" (and FSK, Mahaffeys.. according to preference). Prices are $6-10 for a draft and the style variety is limited for such a large list: very few sours or smoked beers and lacking solid lagers. Selections per style aren't consistently high, and the list is dominated by sweet IPAs. The bottle list compensates though with a few excellent selections per style (De la Senne's Stouterik!). Buffalo Sliders - crispy exterior, dry interior. Gray throughout, the pickled veggies are a crunchy break from the one-note, nearly flavorless meat. The aoili is lightly spicy--slab it on next time! Tomato Soup - Great stuff. Texture spot on, hints of smoke but still appropriately acidic and tangy. The croutons provide the right crunch and read way cheaper than they taste--they are delicately flavored, just the right balance with the soup's profile.
(3)Kristen R.
Staff were friendly and had great information of selections on tap. Setting was lively, a bit loud but maybe to be expected on a Thursday eveing inbetween shows at The Hippodrome- it is right across the street. Minus one star for being a bit greasier thn expected but the Brussel Sprouts (Lite Fare) were delicious and big enough portion to share with table of 4.
(4)Sue K.
If i am ever back in baltimore, I'd come back here. I was in for a conference and a few of my friends drove into the city to see me. We needed a low key place to do dinner - and this could not have been any better. we had blackbean burger and a regular meat burger (I forget which one). The black bean burger was good except for the texture - the flavor was all there but it was a little too mushy. I think I'd add pickles or some sort of hard/crisp veggies to balance the texture. The meat burger (whichever one we got) was fantastic. Very VERY flavorful. We also hared a salad and an appetizer. Their beer selection was fantastic as well. Allegash beer on tap went well with the burgers and fries.
(4)Scott C.
First of all, the reason to go is for the extensive and locally heavy beer menu. They have a very lovely selection of craft brews. The food is good, not great. We had 2 meals here- the duck fat fries are delicious and the the shrimps on grits were very tasty. Cajun pot pie was very good, though heavy on the rice. One of my favorite dishes, broiled Brussels sprouts, was done not as well as I would have liked. It was a bit soggy while I was expecting something borderline burnt/crispy. Overall, it is a decent dining experience, but the beer outshines the food. All is a bit overpriced. 2 entrees (cajun Pot Pie, 3 shrimp on grits), a salad, an order of fries and 4 beers ran $80,plus tip. Ouch.
(3)William B.
Had a reservation for three at 6:00. Got there on time, but we were told there would be a 45-minute wait. Didn't bother. Why take reservations?
(1)Megan S.
BEST fish tacos AND they have duckfat fries. Yes, it is perfect for that cheat meal at the end of the week. Nice comfortable atmosphere with dim lights and a huge drink selection if you want to take a load off. Some of the tables and seats are a little close together, but what better way to chat up with some friendly people?
(4)Vickie S.
I've been here both for lunch and for dinner, and while I definitely think the full dinner menu is the bee's knees and really needs to be when you go to check out their food, the lunch menu is just a truncated version of dinner. For the carnivores, the menu has more than once included wild boar. F. Y. I. I didn't anticipate that the place became such a sports bar for Ravens games. Lunch with my mom and her husband was surrounded by purple burger-eaters, well before kickoff. I had always considered their atmosphere to be more classy than that, but if you limit your lunch to your sandwiches and fish and chips, maybe I should have guessed. I prefer the gorgeous lit-up dinner timeframe where the place seems warm and glows under the hanging lamps. We don't need more sports bars, Baltimore. We really don't. Their draught list is practically curated - and there's something for literally any taste between pours and bottles. Relatedly, the staff seems to always be bearded and/or lumberjack-hipster style young men. Your knit beanie may not have been exactly professional, waiter-dude, but you fit right in with your fellows. Come for the food and the beer. I just recommend not doing it at lunchtime or on game day.
(4)Kim K.
Aweful Service From Owner Stopped by because of recommendation to try burger. Was told no tables available. Over next 20 minutes at least two parties came in without reservations and were given tables. Apparently we are not on the "cool" list & were given the shaft. Cant judge food because never given a table. 0 stars for effort. 0 stars for customer service. 0 stars for being jerks when we complained for crappy service. 1 star for bartender who tried to give a sh#t
(1)camron W.
Go with the Smoke Burger and one of the great draught beers !
(5)Traci R.
Disclaimer: I dined here the night of the John Mayer concert so it was PACKED. My friend and I sat in the bar area since we didn't have reservations. Drinks: My friend just got a regular double vodka and cranberry. I got the Bacon Bloody Brian because I believe that you can't go wrong w/ bacon....and I was right! his was one of the best Bloody Mary's I've had and I've had quite a few. I think they could cut the size of the drink in half and cut the cost as well. It's just a lot of tomato juice but the drink was awesome! Food: We both got the Smoke Burger, medium. Their medium looked a lot of medium rare. It took us more than 45mins to get our food so I wasn't about to send it back but I definitely crossed my fingers that a stomach bug wasn't in my future (which it wasn't). But the burger was good though. And yes, they do warn you that the almighty Smoke Burger takes longer than regular old burgers buuuut 45mins+ is excessive. But I'll attribute that to the fact that everybody in the restaurant ordered one. I was excited for the duck fat fries buuuut I felt like I could taste the oil. They were good though. All in all, I liked it. I'll have to try it again with a reservation and get the entire experience. I like the ambiance of the place though. Cute little private rooms throughout. Great for a date!
(3)Ed W.
While traveling for work, I stopped in here because it was raining, and I wanted a beer and a burger. So let me start with the best part of the review - this place has a nice burger. It was not great. The bun was a little dry. The bacon was overpowering of the patty (lots of bacon, which is nice but when there are bacon strips hanging 2-3 inches off in all directions, that's a bit too much for me). The patty was WAY overcooked, as in like zero color and zero flavor. But the ingredients were there to make it good, and I assume whoever was in charge in the kitchen was lacking ability or focus to cook it up well. So I will give the place the benefit of the doubt on the burger (and the fries, which were fine). The beer list is also impressive. No mega-produced, bad-tasting beers here (e.g. Bud Light). Nice selection of west coast brews. The bartenders also know the beers and can describe pretty much everything, plus they will give you a small sample of a beer so you don't waste your money. That's a nice feature. The wings I started out with were the driest wings I have ever had the luxury of trying to eat. Raspberry, jalapeño wings. Nice idea. Fail on execution. Again, see above re whoever was in the kitchen. Took entirely too long to get food for the few number of people eating. The bartender was knowledgable but not really friendly. The decor and interior is a nice idea, to take a historical building and make it into a restaurant. So that's a plus. But I really cannot give it more than 3 stars, because of the decent service, the bad wings, and the way overcooked burger. If I just wanted a good beer, I would definitely return. I don't think I'll eat again.
(3)Lauren M.
A short walk to the Hippodrome or Camden Yards, Alewife is great for getting a bite before or after any event. The architecture and details of the building are great, but it's the extensive list of beers and comfort food that will bring me back again. We arrived before a baseball game and had to wait just a few minutes to get seated. Our server was great and came to check on us during our meal. Overall a great find!
(4)Scott S.
First, the beer. They have 40 very well selected craft taps. Great mix of local, U.S. craft and international beers. Also a great mix of styles. They don't waste any taps on the standard crap beers, so those that don't like craft beers will have to go with a bottle, can or cocktail. Beer highlights for today include Ballast Point Sculpin, Troegs Nugget Nectar, Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, Firestone Walker Union Jack and North Coast Old Rasputin (nitro). Second, the food. I haven't managed to get anything other than the Smoke Burger because it is just about flawless. Brioche bun, duck fat fries, perfectly medium rare (on the rarer side if anything), juicy, a little char. Awesomeness. Third, the atmosphere. For me, this is the perfect bar atmosphere. Very casual, but still nice. Decent sized, beautiful bar. Plenty of tables. It's in an old bank so the building facade is gorgeous and inside there are very high ceilings and huge windows that let in a lot of light. It's pretty much the perfect bar. UPDATE: I wrote this review several months ago, but forgot to post it. I've been back twice since then and it's still awesome and I can also add that the Hop BBQ chicken sandwich is pretty tasty.
(5)Dana F.
Fantastic beer and food selection! Sit at the bar and they'll let you taste the draught beer before you choose what to order. If you like scotch, they have a great selection. They even let us smell each before making a decision. The best was Hedonism from Compass in England. Very hard to find, but very smooth.
(5)Mattzilla M.
I come here a lot because they have awesome bartenders, great food, and delicious beer! It's also near my house and my go-to bar of choice. Thai peanut wings are sweet, not spicy and come with a great dipping sauce. The crab cake platter is solid, comes with a salad and a fried green tomato which is a nice touch. The smoke burger is to die for! The beer selection is off the charts, and they have something for everyone. If they are out of the beer you want ask the bartender to recommend a similar one. They know their stuff. They have a big selection of liquor, some hard to find scotches, and an innovative house cocktail list. The bacon bloody Mary is amazing! The bar was once a bank. It has the original vault out front and has a lot of character on the inside. There is A lot of seating for dining in, but sitting at the bar is better. A lot of people cry on here about not getting service and blah blah blah. This bar is right across the street from the Hippodrome and near the First Mariner Arena. If there is a show that night, a concert, or event they may be busy and do hold reservations on the tables. Keep that in mind. This is a must try for the true beer and ale house lover!
(5)Rachelle R.
I had gone to Alewife for the first time about a month ago while on a business trip, and I had a wonderful experience. The vast selection beer was what had drawn us to this place. It is convenient with being within walking distance from the water and other things to do. Our server was well versed on their beer selection and was helpful in recommending new things to try. Aside from the great beer, the food was savory. I would recommend the wild boar sliders, and my friend had ordered their house burger. The burger, also savory was enough for two people. If I make it back out to Baltimore any time soon I will certainly be back.
(4)Andrew B.
There is no question that on our recent east coast vacation this was by far and away the best bar we visited. After taking an Uber from another bar to Alewife upon the suggestion of a bartender at yet another bar(I am well versed in bars) we walked in and up some steps into Alewife. The space was awesome! a big open room with tables and a second floor balcony that overlooked the main room. The stained glass windows were made by a former bartender there who now works at the bar we left to go to Alewife. Small word. We sat at the bar. How typical..... What made Alewife so special were the bartenders/servers. They were the people having the most fun in the place! Great conversation about the beer, the place, and a whole bunch of random stuff. My wife and I split an orange with them. How that came about I don't remember but it was a good time. Seriously, if you are in Baltimore go to Alewife and chill at the bar with the awesome people who work there. The taps are pretty great too!
(5)Tracy B.
My boyfriend and I dined here last night before seeing a show at the Hippodrome. We could not get a reservation at the restaurant next door, so decided to go to Alewife instead. It wasn't anything mind-blowing, but we both enjoyed our dinner and it's a good spot for pub style food, and conveniently located directly across from the theater. The Smoke Burger was delicious - really good, thick, juicy, flavorful patty - would recommend! We also ordered the Obligatory Salad, which was large enough to share and tasty. I had a special cocktail from the bar that did not disappoint. I'd dine here again if I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)George T.
5 stars, i'll tell you why. -BEST BURGER in Baltimore: here's the menu desciption----SMOKE BURGER* $15 "An 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli," My mouth waters every time i read the burger components, and I after trying the burger twice already, the it's the real deal. I always get my burger medium and with duck fat fries (which are a couple of extra dollars). The meat portion of the burger it self has been cooked perfectly both times, nice and juicy and slightly red in the middle the way it should be. The meat is made a little undersalted, but if you take a bite with the rest of the toppings, the taste is perfect. BACON is THICK and crispy (could be a bit more crispy). You need to come here soley for the burger. - OTHER stuff to complement your burger I've always gotten the THAI peanut wings. They are standard wings, fried well. The sauce is what makes it unique. homemade Mayo/thousand island based but with a thai kick. Def worth a try while you wait for your burger to cook. SOUP - i had one of the best soups here, this was unexpected. It was a loaded baked potato soup, incredible texture and complex mix of flavors, perfectly salted and spiced. This might have been as good as the burger. My only complaint was that it didn't come with bread. I havne't tried many of the beers and other dishes, but word of mouth and based on what i've tried, the rest of the menu must be and is good. Def come here. OVERALL: get the SMOKEHOUSE BURGER.
(5)Seth G.
After going to the "Poe's Birthday Celebration" at Westminster Hall, food and drink were need. So after a turn or two walking down the street we came across Alewife. Looking at the place we know it would fit the bill (food and drink). The beer selection was awesome (think the "Everything is Awesome" song from the Lego Movie, but with beer). The service was real good. Dinner was very tasty. Yes, the beers were awesome. For desert we had the carrot cake and it was not crazy size (as in a giant slab). I use to work in restaurants for many many moons, I really liked that they only had one desert on the menu at a time. What a great idea and yes, it was also tasty. My only complaint was they had on the Indy at New England playoff game. I fucking hate Indy, since I was raised right and was a Baltimore Colts fan. In the end it did not matter, since New England (no, I am not a fan) kicked the shit out of Indy and there was much rejoicing with more tasty beers (again, think "Everything is Awesome" song from the Lego Movie, but with beer).
(3)Sabiano H.
Eh. Honestly dont know why people are raving about this place. Has a cool barish atmosphere. Service is solid, no complaints. Ordered there smokehouse burger which is supposed to be amazing. Thought it was subpar. Duck fries were delicious but I've had better. Overall 6.9/10 -SaBeast
(3)Kristy W.
First read about Alewife in Food and Wine magazine--decided that was a ringing enough endorsement for me and the hubs to make a journey to Baltimore from DC to eat there (or to "go to the aquarium"). It has lots of great draft beers on the menu and a really creative and interesting menu. The building itself is great--an old bank building gives the space a unique vibe and an interesting feel. We started with a couple beers (duh), and the crab deviled eggs. I had the fish tacos with sweet potato crispies and the hubs had the cuban. Both were great, as were the beers. The server was attentive and friendly, and offered tastes of beers as well as suggestions. I would definitely go back if I was in the area.
(4)Erich W.
I was staying at a Inner Harbor Hotel for a conference and was trying to find a non-chain restaurant. The Baltimore Magazine had a write up on Alewife so I decided to give it a try. I was hoping to get crab cakes while I was here in Baltimore. While they were on the menu, after I read Yelp I decided I had to try the Smoked Hamburger with duck fat fries. I was glad I did. Great hamburger and fries especially with the Srichacha aioli dipping sauce. Price was a little on the high side but overall worth it. Beer selection was outstanding as well and they let you try a sample before buying. Would definitely go back
(5)Ceirra A.
The Cajon pot pie blew my mind!!! Very good everyone at our table was satisfied with their meals!
(5)Sarah K.
I liked the atmosphere. Their beer selection is very impressive, and our food was decent. Prices seemed a little steep for eating at a bar, but the selection of food was definitely beyond your typical bar food. There were several interesting items. I got the catfish tacos. They weren't bad, but they weren't that flavorful either.
(4)Bill T.
Mother, may I sleep with danger? No, this isn't about the classic Tori Spelling movie* from the 1990's, instead it's about my visit to the Alewife mothership in Baltimore. On several occasions, I've visited the Alewife location in Queens and had quite an enjoyable time. It's even been the site of beer club three times, the most of any establishment. Therefore I was quite excited when planning a trip to Baltimore to meet up with some old college friends, one of them tells me "We're going to Alewife". We pull up outside and I kind of fall getting out of the taxi, but that actually got me introduced to one of the owners/managers of the place. I happened to mention that'd I just been at the location in Queens a couple of days prior and that led to us getting a tour of the restaurant. It's very cool as it's in an old bank and they have a lot of nooks and crannies as well as a very cool private party space on the top floor. The spiral staircase in the back is gorgeous. Anyway, after the tour we were thirsty so we sat down to drink and eat. I had a Belgian sampler and it had very tasty beers on it, the highlight of which was the Stone Cali-Belgique. I liked it so much I ordered a full one. Everyone else enjoyed their beers as well. Food was roundly well-received. Roasted tomato soup was as good as it sounds. And I loved the crabcakes. They were not quite like the standard ones you find in Maryland but they were light and delicious and I could eat them all day. To get back to my opening line, my visit to the mothership was spectacular, but it would be dangerous if I lived in Baltimore because I would be there all the time and would probably just have my paycheck direct deposited to their account. Good food, awesome beer, nice staff....this place rocks. ______________________________________ * imdb.com/title/tt0117092
(5)Logan N.
I'm a fan of this place because it has spunk and it was routy! Love the crowd. Food is decent and their cocktails are delicious ($8). It was only a few blocks from my hotel and they open till 2am (but the kitchen closes several before then. Smoke burger: 4 stars for the soggy bun at the end of the meal, but still delicious.
(4)Carey M.
Came her Saturday night with the hubs. The place has a great draught beer selection but the food sucks and is over priced. I ordered the smoked burger (per the waiter it won best burger in baltimore)...um, not so much. There was nothing special to it, had no taste and probably should have not won any award in my opinion. The hubs got the airliner chicken for 20 bux which was just a piece of chicken in broth and veggies...20 dollars! Come on! Come here for beer but eat somewhere else!
(2)Melissa W.
Oops, can't believe I didn't write a review for this place yet. I've now eaten here 3 times. Twice I had the Smoke Burger (15) and once I had the grilled cheese & tomato soup (?). Both were great. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the atmosphere. It's an old bank! The safe room is still there! WONDERFUL craft beers on tap. I think they have about 20 rotating taps. AND THEY DON'T SERVE JUNK. Halle - ('scuse the language) EFFING - lujah! The last time I was there a man asked for a Coors Light and the bartender (politely) informed him that they don't serve any of the mass market beers in their esteemed location. Score. My burger the 2nd time was not as good, which is why I removed a star. The bacon was super unpredictable, even on the same burger! One end of one piece was like ... raw. Okayyy, not raw, but very, very lightly cooked. The other end was burnt to a crisp. I don't even know how that happened. Not a huge problem, I just pulled that piece off. Staff have always been super kind & knowledgeable about the beer & food. All desserts are made in-house! So great. They are priced accordingly though. Met the owner the 2nd time I was there. Super cool guy. Will definitely be back. Oh - they have comedy like once a week too.
(4)Nicole E.
Order the burger!! The fish tacos are also amazing. Heck, everything I've had here is great. And the beer selection is one of the best in Baltimore. Max's in Fells may have a few more - but you won't miss the extras when you have so many quality ones to choose from. They are printed on a menu and written on a huge chalkboard, both of which are frequently updated as kegs run out. This is a great spot pre-Baseball game or pre-show at the Hippodrome. Whenever I have out of town guests staying on the West side of the harbor, I always recommend that they come here. The venue (an old bank) is beautiful and historic - it gives you a glimpse of old Baltimore. There is trivia here one night a week (unsure of the day but call to check). A few friends and I were dining when it started and were welcomed to play. It was both challenging and a lot of fun. We won... And we're able to cash in our prize (a gift card) on the spot for free shots/beers as many team members were visiting from out of town and wouldn't be able to return soon enough to use it. The boyfriend and I also came here for New Years a few years ago and it was a ton of fun! There was no cover with free passed hors d'oeurves and champagne toast. We're hoping this is available again this year because it was a great time!
(5)Vanessa H.
Went here last night on a whim. When we walked up, we were shocked at how busy it was for a wednesday at 630pm, but got in line anyway. When we finally made it to the hostess stand, the hostess seemed to be attempting to get us to leave. She was sheepish, talking under her breath, and doing that odd, no eye contact, speaking out of the side of her mouth thing. You know what I'm talking about. Anyway, she told us several times that the wait was at least 45min since we didn't have a reservation. We asked her to put us on the list, and we would head to the bar in the meantime. After this interaction, we realized there was a show and her attempts to move us along were because of possible time restraints. Had she just asked "are you going to a show" the entire exchange could've been much less awkward. Cut to the bar. We got seats right away, and the bartenders were fantastically attentive. I asked for something on the beer board, but it had been sold out. The girls were spot on with their suggestions for alternatives and let us taste anything we wanted. The beer selection here is top notch. There really is something for every beer drinker. I even tried the cider which was delicious. Disclaimer: if your idea of a good beer is a Bud or Miller Lite, just keep walking. About a half an hour into our wait, we were seated. The seats are tight, but not so tight that your conversation is competing with your neighbors. We started with the calamari. Love that they kept tentacles, not just a plate of rings. The chipotle aioli it was served with was tasty. Not too spicy or smokey, just right. We both ordered the Smoke Burger, medium. The menu says this burger takes longer to cook, and I honestly don't know how long it took. We were having such a nice time enjoying each others company. The atmosphere here is really relaxing and the staff is all about keeping your drink full, but not being an annoyance. ( I did notice that some tables were quite upset about how long it was taking for their meals to come out. Perhaps this isn't the best "before show" dinner place. ) So, the burgers. My medium was a bit more well than medium. I imagine is has to be in order to get the middle cooked at all. This burger is big. Overwhelmingly large. The bacon was so well done it just shattered after a bite. It was clearly bacon that had been made hours in advance. This burger is ok. Just ok. I really am curious as to where people are eating before they come here and declare this the best burger ever. Speaking of the best ever, the duck fat fries? They're fries. Nothing more, nothing less. Our waiter, Gabe was great. Friendly, attentive, kept us happy, but wasn't constantly on top of us. I don't know that it's a dinner place for us. Im open to trying some other dishes on the menu, but I wouldn't order the smoke burger again and I cant see us making reservations to run back for another dinner dining experience. We would definitely come back for beers and apps at the bar though.
(3)Amy C.
VERY good food and drinks. Unfortunately, our waitress wasn't that great. We came here for my cousin's birthday at the last minute when the original place where she made a reservation fell through. We were able to nab two tables for our large party. Before we everyone in our party arrived, the waitress kept pressuring us to order food even though we had already ordered drinks. Then after we placed our dinner orders, she messed up two of them (including mine). She didn't seem to enjoy having to serve a large party on that Saturday night, and we didn't enjoy having to give her gratuity.
(3)Brittany S.
Before the Kanye concert at the Baltimore Arena, we decided to walk in and grab some beers and grub. As we are walking up about 10 police cars pull up, tackle some guy and arrest him. LOL good ol' Bmore. Just a coincidence that this happened right in front of Alewife, or maybe foreshadowing that we should've kept walking to another restaurant? I don't know... It was Valentine's Day and the hostess had somebody cancel right before we walked in so we got a table. A little surprised the place was all booked up for Valentine's Day. The service was... well what service? I have no idea who are server was, somebody new came to our table every maybe 15 minutes. The ciders were OK, the Hop Betty was interesting but very hoppy. We ordered the oysters as an appetizer and they were the worst I've ever day. The fried oysters themselves were good but the butter corn sauce was just... why!? Why would you do that?! We saw everybody order the burger so we ordered one to share since it was huge and came with fries. The table next to use sent both of their burgers back because they were undercooked. We order our burger medium and it came out burnt and dry. That's all I could taste even over the sauce, the bun, even the bacon! All I tasted was BURNT. The duck fat fries were the best part but who cared at that point. For 2 people it was $75 (including tip) down the drain.
(2)Diana J.
One and done. Too bad I did not read the other reviews before I jumped into this restaurant. The food is okay, way over priced and the owner was a bit of a grump. We waited over 20 minutes for a server who was so rushed we had no clue what the "market price" for any item was. Waited over 45 minutes for the food to arrive - cold. For a restaurant that is so close to theaters and has been around for a time, you would think they would know how to handle crowds. Since the city of BMore has been shut down for the past few weeks, one would have hoped the owner would have been more accomodating when we asked him to close the blinds as the evening sun was blinding a number of patrons. Too many other GREAT places in BMore to ever go back.
(2)Christina T.
I had really wanted to love this place. Honestly. The beer selection is on point and the fact it is a renovated bank building and has a wonderful dining atmosphere...but it is wildly inconsistent with its food. I usually settle for the Smoke Burger (which is not really living up to the hype) and the duck fat fries. At random, the fries range from burnt into oblivion, cold as hell to actually good fries. I went here on occasion when I lived closer to this part of Baltimore but once I moved to Mt Vernon (and closer to Brewer's Art), I never came back to Alewife.
(3)Kamni G.
So being new to the city and being busy prevents one from having a yelp life sometimes but I scouted out this place and took the hubby there for his bday. His sister came into town to surprise him and all was well . But things got interesting really quick once we headed to Alewife. The drive leading to this venue is reminiscent of Oakland CA....yeah I said it. Now what made it even more interesting is the food. It was totally,utterly, and impressively yummy! The mac & cheese, duck fat fries and entrees were divine. The burger that takes 30 mins was def not worth it to those in our party of 4 that had it (2 people) however all 4 are clearly craving more beer, mac and cheese and duck fat fries. The atmosphere, an old bank building, very cool and nicely decorated. It made us all want to return and soon.
(4)Lina J.
Was pretty disappointed with the food and especially the service at Alewife. We went for Saturday lunch and the place was pretty empty (there was maybe two other tables and a couple at the bar?) The sign said "Please seat yourself" but I didn't know that it also required unseating myself everytime I wanted to grab the attention of a server. We ordered the classic burger, black bean burger and fish and chips. The burgers were pretty good - especially the black bean burger. As were the duck fat fries that we ordered with the burgers. But that's where the positives end. Fish and chips were chewy and overcooked. First off, since the place wasn't even busy, I would've expected the servers to be more on top of their game. Instead, we literally waited 40 minutes for our food to come out. When it did, we asked for a side of BBQ sauce...which they didn't have. Well, what about honey mustard? Didn't seem to have that either. We had ordered duck fat fries as sides for both burgers but instead got one of them with regular fries. Since the servers decided to suddenly disappear, it took an additional 10 minutes to flag down someone (we eventually just went to the bartender, the only staff member we could see in the entire dining room). They gave us another order of fries but still...I really think it's ridiculous that we had to get up to flag someone down in such an empty room. Same treatment with the check...had to get up and flag down the bartender. What was supposed to be a quick hour lunch took twice as long because of sub-par service. I probably won't be returning anytime soon.
(2)Amber M.
Handy Dandy Yelp app comes to the rescue again!!! Loved this place. It looks as though it were an old OLD bank building. we sat in the back and I saw an old vault door. Soooo cool. Waitress was extremely friendly and helped Hubs pick out a beer. Tasty. Ordered the blackbean burger and it was good. Weird in texture but still good. Whatever you do..order the smokehouse burger. THAT was a good burger. Hubs didn't talk for a good 10 min as he chowed down and almost bit off a finger. I was able to pry it from his hands to get a bite. I see why he turned into a caveman....lol! Good job Alewife!
(4)Cherpumple F.
You need a drink? As in beer? This is the place for you with their giant list of draft beers. Tis a no frou frou, next door to the Hippodrome place great for some pre- or post-show drinkles. Food is okay--I still can't taste the duck fat in their duck fat fries. Maybe it was a duck on a diet.
(3)DjPhaze S.
Great hangout. Neighborhood pub feel. The trivia was fun! The staff is quite friendly, charming and entertaining. Very nice bar with and ample selection of liquors to craft cocktails. We had appetizers that were pretty decent. I'd go back to try the dinner menu soon since it's conveniently close to Everyman's Theater and the Hippodrome.
(3)Matthew J.
The food is either good or great. The prices are a little high though. Nice atmosphere and good service.
(4)Meredith J.
I'll let you read previous posts about the burgers, but they really are delicious! So, I'll focus on the bar. The area where Alewife is located isn't too bad but if you are planning on leaving and walking to bars, have a few in mind. I really like how the bar and restaurant is set-up. It's very open and there is more space then you'd expect. The beer selection is really good and reasonably priced. Also, it never seems to be too crowded, so getting a beer isn't a huge problem.
(5)Kelly G.
This place is a great find in an area that is seriously lacking in nice restaurants. It's sometimes difficult to navigate whether you need to wait for a hostess to seat you or seat yourself - I always end up just seating myself on the first floor. The beer selection is wonderful, very extensive and something for everyone and the food is pretty good as well (the fish tacos were good, but very very messy!) It gets very crowded during games with only a few flat screens near the bar area.
(4)Sam N.
Tons of drafts being offered, duck fat fries, cool takes on burgers, did I mentioned duck fat fries?!?! The decor isn't something to write home about, but the large beer selections and the crowds it attracts can be exciting when the Orioles are playing!
(4)Priscilla A.
Doesnt look like a restaurant stop. Looks like a church... none the less the host was very friendly and the waitress was great. I order the chicken sandwich and the soup of the day * Potato Soup. Delicious!! -Fries had a great taste. Hint of smokiness to them if that even makes sense. The theme was great. It was a dim atmosphere with concentration on beer. Good hangout spot and just a place to relax a let loose.
(4)Ruth C.
3 star grub sampling, 4 star bar; reminds me of a mini-Brickskeller. $10 credit card minimum is easy to break. Managed to find street parking right outside. Pretty space that has an interesting mix of industrial chic and Prohibition-hijacked church. Our fellow bar patrons were riveted to the soccer match on-screen, and a few white-collar drones chatted over a power lunch by the door. Thanks to Joey for being such a patient and friendly bartender as Mike and I pored over the menus. Good selection of Allagash and Dogfish brews, with a healthy dash of Flying Dog, Stone, Troegs, Victory, and Heavy Seas. I finally settled on an Allagash Black for lack of a Justin C in my pocket. As tempting as the The Baltimore cocktail looked, it sadly felt a bit early in the day for me to be knocking back anything with gin in it. Unfortunately, most of the menu that I had ogled in passing turned out to be for dinner only. Sorry Snorlax, no seared crab cakes, chorizo mussels, smoked tomato & goat cheese flan, blue catfish tacos, airliner chicken breast, or grilled skirt steak. Not even a side of tempura fennel frites to be had at midday. So we split an Alewife salad and each got a smoke burger. Salad was chock full of goodies, dressed just enough to keep the blue cheese from dominating. Burgers were cooked to order with juicy, flavorful patties. I forwent the steak knife and let the delicious grease drip down my arm. Bacon was reasonably crisp, and the gouda and gruyere played nicely with the cipollinis. We did a side-by-side comparison of the kettle chips versus the herbed duck fat fries, and for overall balance the chips won. I was ambivalent about the chipotle aioli. The fries were certainly tasty, but added impending food coma to an already heavy dish. I'm glad I boxed up my leftovers because it made for great drunk food later that night. I'll be back for dinner.
(4)Emily P.
I like their smoke burger, but it wasn't out of this world for me as it was for many others who have commented about it on yelp. However, I LOVE their Blue Catfish Tacos, duck fat fries with aioli, and some of their recently added items to menu: duck confit poutine and truffled mac&cheese (you MUST try these new items!). I would come back time and time again for these dishes. Many of their desserts are delicious as well. I've tried their thai peanut wings, Kobe Beef Hot Dog, cubano, smoked tomato soup and pressed cuban bread...all of which were okay. I would probably end up not ordering these items again.
(4)Tony P.
A solidly average gastropub. I stopped here on an early evening so there was no crowd at all. The service was attentive at the bar. The beer list has a good assortment of craft brews and belgians. I settled on two selections from Stone. Their Levitation and Smoke Porter. The buffalo soup with blue cheese crumble and crostini was interesting and flavorful. It had the flavor characteristics of buffalo wings; spicy, tangy, savory. The signature smoke burger was ordinary and over cooked. I asked for medium rare and received well-done. The smoky flavor was there, but it was hard to discern the gouda or gruyere cheeses or even the applewood bacon. My duck fat fries were crispy but bland. No herbal flavors, no savory indications. Overall, a decent spot for a local happy hour gathering if you're nearby.
(3)Candace M.
Atmosphere check. Beer selection check. Food check. VEGAN food options at a pub? Done and done. I went on yelp to find a place that was near the convention center that had good food and a good vibe and ended up here. We got two seats at the bar, loved the menu and everything about this place, esp the beer selection, whiskey selection, and diversity of menu items. It's not often you can feed the vegan and the carnivore together at the pub. The bartender made a small mistake in my order but made up for it by giving me a discount- I was pretty happy with accidentally getting the vegan ragout instead of quinoa tabbouleh anyways! Avoid the hop Betty cocktail, I thought it would be cool but you would be better off with a greyhound instead.
(5)Kristina R.
Went here before a show at the Hippodrome. You definitely want to make reservations if there is a show that night. It is one of the only nicer restaurants within walking distance of the Hippodrome. I had the smoke burger and it was fabulous. It was HUGE! There was a very good selection of draught beers and also a decent wine list. I would definitely go there for dinner if seeing a show again at the Hippodrome.
(4)Frances L.
My first night in Baltimore was spent catching up with an old friend. Since we were staying near Mt. Vernon, we decided to walk over to Alewife, which was only a few blocks away. It was about 10p.m and the man at the front desk of our hotel had warned us that it wasn't really safe for two ladies to walk around in this area, but being stubborn gals from LA, we felt like we were tough enough for the job. And we were! While there were a few shady characters on the way to this gastropub, once we walked inside, it was bustling and lively! This beautiful building with super high ceilings was decked out in tons of dark reclaimed woods and really played off of using the space's original architecture. Much larger than I had anticipated, Alewife not only felt cozy, but it also had a good neighborhood vibe. I was impressed with their extensive tap and bottle selections. Craft beer heaven reaching from one end of the country to the other. Seeing as though we don't really see many Dogfish Head beers on tap in California, I opted for the My Antonia which was a great choice to go with my delicious Cubano sandwich. Tender pork belly, ham, and cheese toasted perfectly and served with a bed of spinach greens. A nice little late-night bite, at good prices, too. Service was friendly and overall, I enjoyed this place thoroughly. I'll definitely be back to try their smoke burger whenever I am in Baltimore next.
(4)Sean O.
Vegan? Kosher? Gluten free? This place is good for none of those! Their burgers are AMAZING! Also, you need to get the beer sampler trays, especially if you want to loosen up while there. They don't serve any mainstream beers here so loosen up and have a hearty beer for once you wuss.
(4)Joseph L.
Not a big fan. Just didn't live up to the expectations. The menu was very simple and very much over priced. The building was cool but too bad the food wasn't. We actually only eat half of what we order and went somewhere else to finish dinner. If you like to spend a lot money on half assed meals then this is the place for you.
(2)Matt R.
I'm always a fan of Alewife's food. I've introduced many a friend to this establishment for the sole purpose of trying their premier dish, the Smoke Burger. Paired with duck fat fries, the food's hard to beat for Baltimore's city center. The cocktails are always creative and the draft list is an impressive, mammoth chalkboard scaling the wall. Now if it were only a few bucks cheaper... The place has a great ambiance and a good "dark" feel. Definitely a good investment on a historical property. Beware nights where the Hippodrome or Everyman are having a large showing. Sometimes Alewife just can't support non-reservation folks or discourages people with hour-plus long waits. Plan your evenings wisely and you won't be disappointed. I do wish Alewife would make better use of its upstairs seating during rushes. They just don't use it frequently enough to accommodate the crowds. The one thing that kills this place from being five stars in my book is the inconsistent service. Some nights it's amazing and some nights it's horrific. On great nights, the staff is upbeat, the food is cooked to perfection, and you leave with a smile on your face. On the bad nights, your food will be either undercooked (and raw) or burned, the staff inattentive, the drinks slow or just plain wrong, and the check forever-waiting in making its appearance. This seems to happen more when it's slow, which I find really puzzling.
(4)Marshall L.
Alewife has quickly become one of Baltimore's finest upscale bar offerings for a number of reasons. 1. The space is fantastic. They turned what used to be a bank into one of the most unique restaurants in town. Deep rich colors, high ceilings, and some of the original bank architecture all make for a fantastic atmosphere. 2. Great regular menu plus the occasional theme night. The smoke burger is worth all of the hype, but make sure to branch out no matter how much it's taunting you. The fish and chips are stellar, the salads are too. But don't get the black bean burger...all you're getting there is a mound of mushy black beans shaped into a patty (I had it today and never will again). I also really enjoy the occasional specialty menus they put together from time to time. They've done special nights with a snakehead fish theme, and they're doing a special wild game menu, with each course paired with a different New Belgium Lips of Faith beer. It's great to see a place so forward thinking with their menu. 3. A huge draught beer list. They really do cover all the bases here. Any type of lager or ale you can think of, priced to fit any budget, and anywhere from 4% to the mid teens ABV-wise. Alewife is going to have a long and storied history with Baltimore. It's going to be the kind of place that you always want to take out of town guests, and it's already established a stellar reputation in just a few short years.
(4)Trevor B.
Had a really good experience on my second time around here, which helped to partially offset the ill effects from my lackluster first attempt. I tried the smoke burger and, for the most part, it lived up to the hype. At 11 oz., this thing is pretty massive and the smoked bacon is delicious. Duck fat fries were crispy and doused in seasoning (rosemary, etc.), which was a plus for me. The burger's a bit pricey at $15 ($12 at lunch), but you definitely won't leave hungry (unless you're used to eating unhealthy amounts of food all the time...). What really did it for me this time around was the great service. Our waitress was patient and more than willing to answer questions about the food & drink items. When she brought out the wrong beer in one round, she left it for us to try anyway. It's all about the little things...
(4)Anna K.
My husband and I were out grocery shopping when he exclaimed, "I want a burger, somewhere I haven't been before." We rattled our brains and came up with Alewife. We'd heard positive things and hadn't tried it out yet. Sunday lunch? Perfect excuse. The place was largely empty (an O's game was going on and we were in for a late lunch) which was fine with me - I can see why some reviewers say this place gets loud with its high ceilings and very open space. There were four of us and we each got a flight (IPA, Belgian, Bar Choice, Local). The Bar choice flight was fun and I thoroughly enjoyed 3 of the 4 pours - all of which were unique to me. I wouldn't recommend the IPA or Belgian flight if you're looking for diverse flavors. For lunch we ordered: Smoke Burger (with duckfat fries A+) A+++ Beef Hot Dog - A/A+ Fish and Chips - A The Smoke burger and fries were the clear winner. This is a well thought out burger with great flavors. I'd recommend getting it Medium Rare if you roll that way. This place can definitely run you a little bit of money so be prepared for that. However, Alewife has got a great atmosphere, delicious food, and a varied beer selection. I highly recommend it.
(4)Paul S.
Great selection of beers as some have suggested? They don't even have Guiness. Order the mussels and you'll get a bowl of french fries with a couple of lame mussels on the bottom and lots of grease. The disappointments just keep coming. The most laughable part is there was a line to get in.
(1)Devonshire B.
Excellent and knowledgeable staff, amazing food (burger had a beautiful smokey flavour), great atmosphere, big big big area, HUGE selection of alcohol!, and decently priced. Why in the world would you NOT want to try this place out?
(4)Joseph C.
My fiancee' took me to Alewife and I was in heaven. The beer selection is quite impressive & the bartenders were quite knowledgable and able to make suggestions.
(4)David W.
Good food, but service seems to be an afterthought (or they are understaffed). There should be no reason at 6:00 on a Saturday afternoon to have to wait for anything. The thai wings were decent, but the brussel sprouts needed more seasoning. My fish tacos were good. The beer list is a bit overwhelming, but since the waiter was doing something else, I had time to pick something, and I enjoyed my pick. Might go back, it is too convenient to the Hippodrome to ignore it completely.
(3)Demetrios G.
I went here before the Poe seance event a couple months ago. The beer and location were great. There's an old bank vault in the back so make sure you go to the bathroom. The food was decent but nothing to write home about. I had the smoke burger which had a good taste but somehow left me unsatisfied. Maybe I'm just to used to the smashburger I make on the cast iron at home. That being said the tap list will keep me coming back and I will give the food another try.
(3)Jo D.
Delicious food and great atmosphere! i went before a performance at Everyman Theatre and really enjoyed one of the burgers! Lots of beers and people of all ages and styles. Only downside is that it is a bit loud-it is in interesting, older building so the acoustics are not great.
(5)Christopher D.
This place was AWESOME. The atmosphere was relaxed, they had the Ravens game on all the TVs, and there was plenty of seating. Both of our servers were friendly and helpful. They knew about the food and beers and were ready with suggestions. Speaking of, FREE BEER. Well, samples. There's something around forty beers on tap alone and they're all craft beers snobs like me would love, but they are happy to bring you a sample first so you know what you're getting if you're not sure which I absolutely love. I ended up with a Bear Republic Racer X which I'd never heard of and now love because of this place. The food was divine and made even better by almost all of it having a nice, deep smoky flavor. I had the smoke burger which used REAL bacon fried there, gouda and gruyere cheese, chipotle aiole and caramelized onions. It came out massive and was savory and smoky to the last bite. It came with a side of duck fat fries with a nice coating of salt and pepper that were the perfect balance between crispy and soft. My wife, the vegetarian, had an excellent selection of meal options. Chile relleno, black bean burger, truffle mac and cheese, and a couple more. She went with the grilled cheese and tomato soup and loved it. The soup had its own smoky flavor and the cheese was thoroughly melted and came off in strings. Not being a big fan of beer she had their root beer cocktail with house made root beer liqueur that tasted just like a root beer float with a nice bite at the end. We absolutely plan to return and highly recommend anyone looking for a great meal do as well. There is something here for everyone and as far as I can tell it's all delicious.
(5)Scott C.
Ok, look, start at the review I did before and then read this thing. The team at Alewife is fun, unpretentious and really always aims to bring their best. Consistently becoming more and more busy, even without the crowd from the Hippodrome, it is proving to be the place to be on the west side of downtown. The menu has evolved a lot, with lots of changes coming for spring, and the beer selection is always wonderful. They'll pour a mean serving of Absinthe too. A hidden gem I just had last night on the menu was the Fennel Frites. Think tastier onion rings with a really tasty aioli. And they still make the best cream of crab soup ever. The mug club has heated up, with some of us just waiting on some Cantillon to show up to complete the quest. Why these guys will only brew 21 days a year makes me sad. Make friends with the staff, they are all great people and are really part of why the place is becoming such a success. It really is nice to see them putting Erik Maza in his place after his craptacular antics on the Midnight Sun Blog. Expect them to be around for a while. Pro-Tip: Make sure you know the Hippodrome schedule and call ahead for reservations. During the pre-show rush the bar area only gets a limited menu, so you'll need a table if you want all the goodness. Pro-Tip #2: If you are there on a busy night and need help navigating the beer menu, look for one of the beer geek regulars. We all love to talk about beers and are more than willing to take some burden off the bartenders (this gets everyone served faster because they don't have to walk you through the menu).
(5)Seth B.
I really wanted to love this place, based on the excellent beer selection and ambience of the building (Is this maybe an old bank building?) At the end, I liked it and will return but was not blown away. We arrived around 7 PM on a Saturday. The hostess was welcoming and found us a table within 10 minutes without a reservation. This place gets a big pre-theater crowd as it's across the street from the Hippodrome so keep that in mind when you go. The service was friendly but slow. Our server seemed to disappear for chunks of time and I needed to flag him down a few times. The draft beer selection is solid and the bottle list is one of the most impressive I've seen. They constantly rotate their bottles and have a number of rarities at any one time. The biggest letdown for me was the food. I ordered the gumbo ($18) and was unimpressed. For the price it wasn't what I was hoping for. My dining partner, however, loved her burger and duck fat fries so maybe I ordered the wrong thing. Anyway, I will return, but perhaps not on a Saturday evening and I will order something else to eat.
(3)Jannelle A.
Occasion: Casual dinner with a friend What I had: Smokehouse burger, fries, and a few house brews Food Review: The smokehouse burger was ridiculously delicious! Interesting pairing of ingredients and flavors, but admittedly it was on the greasy side. It will definitely satisfy your carb/fat intake for a few days, but you'll be too busy devouring your smokehouse to think about that until it's too late... The fries were also delicious, but they came out warm and were cold within 5 minutes. The beer selection is good. Service Review: It was decent. I went for dinner on a Thursday night @7pm, and the place was packed. We elected to sit at the bar because we didn't have time to wait the estimated 40 mins for another table to open up. The time in which the food came out was acceptable, however, I had to flag down the bartender a few times to get her attention. Venue Review: The interior of this building is unique, but the neighborhood can be pretty dicey at night. Be careful. Close proximity to Lexington Market. (If you're from Bmore, you know to stay away at night...) Take-Home Point: The burger is glorious, but the price point is a bit high for what you get. I've been to much fancier restaurants, no less in cities like LA and NYC, that offer similar burgers for less $$.
(3)Valarie G.
I came here for a beer dinner before the hurricane. I enjoyed the atmosphere greatly and the service was friendly. It is a great location. I must come back and try it out when it is not a special event, but I was very impressed.
(4)Dave F.
Eaten (and drank) here numerous times. Nice beer selection, and the lunch selections are really good. Loved the hot dog, and the duck fat fries were good too.
(5)Johnny Q.
Cool looking old school type place. Used to be an old bank that was made into a speak easy. Over 40 beer selections on tap to choose from. Drinks were strong and made very professionally. Had the Potomac Catfish Tacos which did the trick. Not too filling though but tasty. I would recommend the Smokehouse Burger if you want a heavier meal. Not in the best of neighborhoods so it gets pretty sketchy around there but I guess thats just Baltimore
(5)Amy W.
**Update again** Went back on another outing...definitely try the Brussel sprout appetizer!!! Delicious... Been at least 5 times now And while the first time I would have given them 4 stars, the last 2 times, I have been inclined to give them lower ratings. Here's my overall impression: The beer selection is outstanding. And for the most part, their staff is highly knowledgeable about the beer - which if you are going to have that many draft beers, you better be able to answer questions and offer tastings - which they can and do. So if you want a nice spot to try some interesting beer, then this is a great place for that. The first time we went, the couple we went with had hyped up the burger so much that I didn't even look at the menu - I just ordered the Smoke Burger. Which was very good - the apple-wood smoke bacon gives it a really nice flavor. And the blend of Gouda and Gruyere cheeses are very good also. The beef itself makes a very good burger. Overall a very good burger (certainly not the BEST burger in town - but a solid A-). And the duck fat fries are some of the best in town (Salt has some of THE best - but these are a pretty close 2nd.) They took the quesadilla off the menu because peaches are out of season - why not offer a fall/winter version with some other option? Curious. I was looking forward to trying them. Their Alewife salad is delicious. A lot of really great flavor. I tried it with the grilled chicken (which was grilled chicken - meh). But the salad itself was very good. The asparagus was a nice touch and different addition to this type of salad. I didn't want anything heavy since we were going to theatre. The dressing was nice. So here is my one HUGE GRIPE: no dessert? COME ON??? I don't care if the chef doesn't "DO" desserts. Pick up the phone and outsource dude! There are a ton of great local places that you could get desserts from. No offense but that the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me after my last outing there. And the fact that you put a hot chocolate on your menu and thought you could pass it off as dessert just infuriated me more because you don't offer a non-alcoholic version and I couldn't have alcohol! COME ON!!!!!! You offer some pretty cool things on your menu, offering a cool cookie plate, some interesting donuts with a chocolate pudding or a creme brulee would not be a stretch! I was really disappointed because I wanted to cap my meal off with something sweet and couldn't. So I'll stop griping about it, but I doubt I will go back until they fix this. I enjoy dessert when I go out to eat, and this truly bugs me. Lastly, the staff on all three outings has been awesome. Every time we have always had very attentive staff - always offering samples, and the food has always come in a fairly reasonable timeframe in my opinion. Good pace to the meal. Enjoy!
(4)Chris K.
Would have given a 4 but the staff had no energy. Not ridiculous slow but slower than what I'm use to. Food was really good, I recommend the grilled cheese and tomato soup. BTW I went on a Sunday maybe that had something to do with it.
(3)Rick B.
Great foodie food, awesome beers for aficionado's, and hip atmosphere.
(4)Amanda H.
This is a great place to eat before the theater, just make sure and make reservations. The atmosphere was fun and the staff very friendly and efficient. The food was great! I had the fried chicken and my husband had the burger and we were both very happy with our choices..
(4)Anneke M.
Great atmosphere, in an old converted bank building near the Hippodrome. Red painted walls give the place a bold but comfortable vibe. Two huge blackboards house the place's ever-changing beer list, with something for pretty much any beer palate. The bartenders are all very knowledgeable and were totally willing to spend a minute or two helping me choose, even when they were a little bit busy. If you are planning on getting dinner (and you aren't going to the Hippodrome after), waiting until 8 means a much calmer dining room and more attention from the staff . If you don't mind the noise level that comes with a packed house, then of course go before 8. I've eaten there on two separate occasions. The first time, I had the smoke burger and the duck fat fries. Both were fantastic. The burger took a little while to come out, but they warn you of that in the menu so I can't complain about that. The second time I went, I had the smoked tomato soup and the fennel frites. The soup was fantastic, the perfect mix of smoky richness mixed with the tangy tomato. The fennel frites I wasn't as crazy about, they had an odd texture that didn't jive well with me. My friends had the airliner chicken plate which they raved about, and the alewife salad which got good reviews.
(4)Erin C.
Love the interior--cool historical reuse. Good beer list! Are you vegetarian? Look! Awesome! There are things on the menu for you! Unfortunately, they don't taste that great. Serviceable, sure. But otherwise, no reason to come back unless you're just in the mood for some beer. (We got the Tomato Soup/Grilled Cheese and Black Bean Burger before seeing a show at The Hippodrome).
(2)Chris S.
If you come to the Inner Harbor, this is a must stop. Great food and beer. It's a good stop before and after the O's games since its a block away from Camden Yards.
(5)Kara W.
Made a last minute reservation via OpenTable for 8:15pm on a Friday night. Though, I don't really understand the point of making a reservation to sit in an area which could easily be considered the bar- very noisy and cramped. The distinction between bar and restaurant can become muddled so easily. But, I've read so many reviews about the burgers here that I had to get one,so I pressed on. Plus, 95% of the diners were enjoying burgers, so things looked promising. Boy, am I glad that I did (sort of). It was well-seasoned and very succulent. The menu description reads: "an 11oz House Local Beef Blend, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, served with Duck Fat Fries." And, that's pretty accurate. The fries are shoestring-style so they get cold quickly. But, I was so engrossed with my burger that it didn't bother me. I washed it down with a glass of Allagash White- ordered at the recommendation of our server because they were our of Zombie Killer. I was not disappointed. The lightness and crispiness of the beer complemented the burger well. It took all of my strength to eat only half the burger in an attempt to save room for dessert (and maybe another beer). So, you can imagine my dismay when the server slapped the check down on the table without offering either. Good to know that someone is watching my waistline when I obviously am not.
(3)C D.
This place has good beer. The food was slightly above average. The service sucked!
(2)Ali P.
Landed here on my first night in Baltimore after a quick search for a place with a fantastic draught beer selection, a better than average late night menu, and a TV with the finals on. I'm pleasantly surprised to report that I found exactly that, and more.... I walk in, The Black Keys are playing in the background, the game is on, and I find a wall of beers on tap, including some local favorites of mine from home. Lagunitas, Stone, Green Flash, you name it, all of California's best craft beer made an appearance on their menu. However, opting for something I didn't see regularly at home, I ordered a Victory IPA and was pleased. The late night menu really reminded me of beer bars in the city (SF) and had a great selection of gastronomical delights. I ended up ordering from the Late Night menu the Tempura Fennel Frites and the Smoked Tomato Soup. Both were fantastic and WAY more than I could have asked for at 11:30pm on a Tuesday night. Funny, the user below said her drive to this place reminded her of Oakland, and those were my thoughts exactly. Except I WALKED... therefore feeling a bit sketched out for the walk home. Luckily, and completely unexpectedly the bartender and bar back where the sweetest people ever and felt my palpable sketched-outness. The bar back drove me home and I could not have been more thankful. From an ambiance, customer service, food, and libations standpoint, I would highly recommend this spot to locals and visitors alike.
(5)Mike L.
When you approach Alewife, you really don't know what to expect. It's close to Camden Yards, so it's exceedingly convenient if you're looking for a place to slam a few beers after an O's game, not much of a walk at all. Finally approaching the joint, it almost doesn't seem like a restaurant that serves as many beers as it does. The appearance itself from the outside makes me immediately think of a lounge type of environment, that all changes once you go inside. Once you enter Alewife, you go up some steps and seat yourself. At that point, you help yourself to a menu or ask for one and peruse their catalog of extensive beer. Aside from the fairly enormous beer selection (Monterey Area residents reading this review, think of a less contemporary CRBC), I had heard that they had amazing food, of course I had to try it. I ended up ordering their famous Smoke Burger (which wasn't worth $15 but whatever) with Duck Fat Fries (amazing) and a glass of Allegash Blonde, which initially excited me because the only Allegash Beer I ever had was Allegash White, which is already scarce enough as it is. They also had a stout version of this called Allegash Black which looked just as intriguing. If you're a beer connosieur, definitely give Alewife a chance. Coming from the West Coast, it blew my mind to see beers that I have only heard about all at my disposal. I'm going to have a good ol' time the next time I'm in Baltimore!
(4)Oscar S.
Food was good, the place is pretty cool the service is awful. There seemed to be one waitress for the entire place.
(2)Jessica D.
Great food and beer choices. Had the popular burger. Tasty and filling. Enjoyed the atmosphere. It was a Friday night and they were busy due to a show. Dining room was packed and there was two spaces left at the bar. We grabbed it and then bar was packed too. Standing room only. Perfect timing for us to be able to sit and eat. Great start to our stay in Baltimore.
(4)Maria L.
This was my first trip to Ale Wife and I was enthusiastic to go because I heard good stuff about their fish tacos. The place definitely has a unique look to it: there is large abstract art all over the walls, a giant wall dedicated to a chalk-written list of beers they have, there is a wall-length window which has outer shutters that open to allow a full view out onto the street, the tables are a nice dark wood, the water is served in glass jars, and the coolest part is a second floor balcony with two tables that overlooks the main dining area. The real issue came with the service and the food. Our waitress, a tall blonde named Alicia, was lifeless and bordering rude in her disinterest with our party. We ordered when there were only three tables seated and while our appetizer came out in decent time, we waited 42 minutes for fish tacos (fish..not steak or big ole' burgers). When they did come out they were cold; in a neutral tone I told her they were cold and she thought the best reply was "well the fish doesn't normally come out piping hot". Well. She told her manager on her own accord and they did remove one order of it. I decided I'd take the 2 of 3 home and pop them in the oven later, and they do have these neat black-carton to-go boxes. I wouldn't go back here to eat. The bar?--maybe.
(2)Mike M.
Burger was excellent. Fish tacos were good but served a little cold. Great beer selection but not the cheapest place.
(4)Melissa R.
DISCLAIMER: This review is coming from a preggo who could not enjoy their main attraction (BEER!) and is purely based on the food. Came her twice on my recent trip to Baltimore. First time around I had the tomato soup with grilled cheese. The grilled cheese was a little smaller than expected, but otherwise the meal was solid. Nothing to elaborate on. The big suprise was that they had ginger beer, huge kudos! Second time was for carryout. Their carryout containers were bigger than the bag to carry them in, so they were put in sideways. The crabcakes did not survive the trip back to the hotel. Likely they would have been much better if I ate them @ Alewife. Can't recommend this place on food alone, but the atosphere was chill and their beer selection was superb (accompanied by a very knowledgeable bartender.). Will have to give this place a 2nd try once I pop.
(3)Colleen R.
It is a great place to go if you enjoy beer. The menu, however is extremely limited (it IS a pub), unremarkable and very expensive. My companions loved the huge burgers. My fish tacos were cold and drippy. The pub used to be a bank in an early life. The atmosphere is loud and boisterous but we were lucky to be placed in an old vault. We we extremely disappointed to learn that not only do they not recognize birthdays (we were celebrating two) but they charge $25 if you bring in your own birthday cake. We spent close to $200 for five people and had to go elsewhere to enjoy our cake.
(2)Molly S.
My roommate and I were searching for a specific kind of beer, and our search led us to finding Lucy's Irish Pub, which is the bar that used to occupy the stunning old bank building that is now Alewife. It is located conveniently near the Lexington Market Light Rail stop, and within a few blocks of a Metro stop, which means that even if you don't have a car, you can easily access this amazing spot. The building from the outside is stunning; its pristine white exterior sets it apart from the other buildings on the block, so we had no trouble at all finding it. The interior doesn't disappoint, either; the walls are a warm burgundy and all the wood, on the tables and bar, is rich and dark. The high ceiling is reminiscent of the building's original origins, paneled with the same dark wood that composes the rest of the building's trimmings. The list of 40 beers on draft is mindblowing; the selection is truly amazing. You truly would have to be a boring human being to come here and order a Bud Light or a Natty Boh. In addition to being an amazing assortment of delicious craft beers, the list is updated every few days, so it will never be quite the same. The cocktail and wine lists are also extremely impressive; I will definitely be sampling from them next time I come back (which might be as soon as tonight). The bartenders were friendly and extremely helpful, and the music playing was the perfect playlist for some late night beers with good friends. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys delicious beer, great service and good music in a friendly, intimate atmosphere.
(5)Erin L.
I have to amend my previous review and knock Alewife down a few notches with regard to customer service. I arrived to Alewife at 430 on a Friday requesting a table of 3 for myself, my brother and SIL. I was declined. The hostess informed me that they were completely booked. I looked around the empty dining room, finding it hard to believe that they didn't have room for just three more people. She claimed there was a private party coming in, and since there was a show at the theater, they couldn't take anyone else. Since I was the only person waiting in the front, I politely asked her to please just check and see if there was any way she could make an exception. It really seemed absurd to be turned away from a place that wasn't even crowded. The hostess huffed and puffed at the podium for a minute or two before saying that there was absolutely no way. I find it hard to believe that there was no room to squeeze a measly three top in. She even chastised me for not having reservations. I didn't think I needed a reso at 430 in the afternoon, and by the emptiness of the restaurant, you'd think the servers might have wanted the extra money. Clearly Alewife doesn't need the extra money, since they were so quick to turn away paying customers and refer us to Frank & Nic's, down the street. (For the record, F&N was amazing alternative.) When I worked in the restaurant biz, customers were everything, and unless the dining room was full, we could always find someone willing to wait on an extra 3-top. Or, they should have put a sign up that said "Closed for Private Party." Just saying..... Alewife, get off your high horse. Your food is good, but arrogance can really ruin a good thing. I live just down the street, but I will not be returning. I'd rather patronize places who want my business.
(2)Diana H.
They have a great beer menu and make a pretty stiff cocktail, for this alone I would have given it four stars. But unfortunately we had a lot of problems at Alewife. First the bartender kept trying to rip us off, we ordered their smokey burger since everyone raves about it and we order just the burger no fries etc. The plate comes with fries, we do not notice, we eat the burger it was cooked medium well when we asked for medium rare however we let it go because we did not have time to return it and ask for a properly cooked burger. The bill comes. A.) We were not charged happy hour prices and when I brought it up to her she is like, oh right I forgot it was happy hour (Yeah right) B.) She charges us with the fries we did not order nor eat and not only did she charge us for the fries but for the fries fried in duck fat. ... and I really believe it was intentional, so everyone double check your bills.
(1)Sean H.
AAAAwwwwwwww yyyyeeaaahh!!! Beer, beer everywhere! And the food is boss. Atop it all the atmosphere is just tops and the service, though at times busy, is great. My dinner party and I slackjawed it up with what seemed to be a revolving three waitresses that took turns serving us and it was super cool (two of the three were cute, one was super cute). They were setting up for karaoke too just as we finished our meals. This place oozes fun, relaxed, and enjoyable and I need to make a concerted effort to go here more often. The chow: Smoke burger = delicious and well liked by many. Kobe beef hot dog = delicious but I wanted more. Cubano = a decent cubano with an interesting twist. Try it if you're a cubano fan. Truffled mac & cheese = there is a lot to be desired with this appetizer. The flavor is neutral and unappealing and in my opinion not worth the price. The chocolate cake thing = pure junk. I can't remember exactly what it was called but when I think chocolate cake I think a big piece of cake, not a small muffin sized piece of dense dark chocolate. It tasted bland too....just didn't like it. Notes: Good for groups, excellent bar, I once drank 12 lemonades here and tweeked out for about four hours before sleeping like a baby thumb in mouth.
(4)Charity D.
Good food--the smoke burger is amazing! I love the variety of beer they have too! Always a good meal at Alewife.
(4)Rich C.
What a Find!!! My wife and I had tickets to the O's game and there was a rain delay. Instead of being stuck in the yard, like a caged bird (no pun intened), we opted to head north from the parking garage on Eutaw. This place was the first place we came accros that looked inviting. The huge glass window on the front is very cool. I am a big beer guy so this place is heaven for beer folk. The selection is huge with a ton of belgian beers. Don't come looking for any kind of comercialized beers, including the big name imports, cause you won't find that here. You can get all the swill like that you want, at the yard, for about the same price. The food is equally impressive. My wife had the smoke burger and loved it. I had the chicken and it was quite possibly the best chiecken I have had in a long time. Not cheap, but well worth the extra $$$. The place is slightly upscale yet comfortible and the quality of the food and beer makes it a solid home run. Sorry couldn't help myself with that one. The staff and owner are really nice too!
(5)Orin W.
Terrible experience!!! Went for a pre theater burger and made a reservation 24 hours in advance. We waited 15 minutes standing in the outside stairwell before getting seated. THEN the real annoying problems began. I ordered the Great Gatsby (some vodka drink) and when it arrived I swear it tasted like cough syrup. My wife liked it but it really wasn't for me. I kindly asked if I could switch it out for a pint of beer and the waiter said that's against their policy. Now my wife and I eat out a LOT. In New York, DC and all over the world. Never heard of this policy. Ok, my wife said, if it's a problem with the manager just have him come over. When I explained to the manager that I just didn't care for the drink he responded with "well you shouldn't order our drinks because you clearly don't like what we make." Whatever. The review is already too long but the drink sucked, the food sucked and the service sucked. There is a panera bread around the corner...go there.
(1)Tony S.
3.5 toward a 4! Came in last Saturday for lunch, not busy. Strolled up to the bar and asked for their beer menu. The bartender pointed out what they had on tap then smirked and pointed out the HUGE chalkboard of beers they had... Dazed and in a time pinch...i just asked for something hoppy, like an IPA. Before he could say, "Stone" I said, "YES!" So as for lunch, the menu is rather abbreviated. I really wanted to try the other things people mentioned in earlier reviews, but, alas, that's only on the dinner menu. NONETHELESS, WHO NEEDS A FULL MENU WHEN YOU HAVE THE SMOKED BURGER!!! Since everyone was raving on and on about it, I figured I'd give it a stab.... When I saw the asterisk next to the item on the menu saying that it takes a while to cook, I thought, "Oh this better be worth it..." 25 mins and an appetizer later out came this burger with a freaking KNIFE in it! On looks alone, I was sold. :) THen I bit into it and OMG the meat is well seasoned and tender and juicy...god, I'm salivating and it's 8:30 in the morning...SO DELICIOUS. A FAN of this burger. Friendly crowd, attentive bartender, chill place for lunch. Good beer selection, funky decor. Can't vouch for much else.
(3)Ryan S.
Been there twice, cant comment on the food other than the smoked burger is awesome. Not the end-all be-all of burgers but a tasty respectable one non-the-less. The beer selection is awesome. The name is Alewife so if they didnt have an awesome beer selection this wouldve been a 1 star review. Service was adequate but nothing really stood out. Think I remember having to flag down the waitress for a soda refill. How a restaurant handles drink refills is usually a good indicator of how attentive the wait staff is.
(4)JK H.
This place is great except no fracking happy hour. How can you have all these great beers and no happy hour?!
(3)Marc H.
Best bar in the inner harbor. You won't find better craft beer variety in this area. I'm also a scotch lover and their selection was ample. Met the owners and they were good people along with the bar staff. Food was great, it was really what brought me back for a second tasting, the smoke burger was great and the second night I had the pork chop. The second night I got to try a lot more great samplings of their vast selection. Reminded me of Three Floyd's in Indiana withought the fruity flavors.
(5)Lina B.
GREAT beer selection with rotating draught menu that you can find illustrated on the chalkboard (or in the menu). They have a beer club, but it's pretty impossible to drink that many beers in the timeframe of one year. Smokeburger, although it DOES take a long time to come out of the kitchen, is definitely worth it. I also have tried the truffle mac and cheese, cuban sandwich, tomato soup with cheese croutons. All of these choices are definitely yummy. My roommate got the fish tacos once and wasn't very impressed. The duck fat fries are a staple and you should always order them. The aioli on the side is what makes the perfect combination. I also know my friends ordered the fennel frites and loved them, but I did not have room to try one at the time.
(4)Marie T.
i liked this place! incredibly casual, although i'd choose a different entree next time as i was a bit of a newbie and didn't realize the crab was "market price". yikes, expensive just for a crab cake on my salad. but good all the same.
(3)Christy F.
The location is extremely convenient if you are going to a show at the Hippodrome, as it's basically across the street. We went to Alewife to get a quick bite before a show. We got there on what I thought was the early side for dinner - 6 pm - and we were told all the tables were reserved, so we had to sit in the bar area and that was acceptable. We ordered drinks - I had the vanilla porter which was a comfortable warming brew and not too heavy -- but when it came to ordering food, we ended up leaving. Why, you ask? I ordered the short rib and they were already sold out of it! Their menu is not that extensive and while sitting at the bar, we saw most of the entrees passed out to other diners. The Cubano looked like all bread and no meat and the duck fat fries looked absolutely sodden with heavy gravy. My date ordered the Smoke Burger, but he hates cheese and when he ordered it without cheese, he was told that the cheese is actually mixed in with the ground beef, so a cheese-less burger is not possible there. Counting that as our third strike, we left and sought other options on Pratt Street. I had previously eaten here close to Halloween and had the risotto cakes. They were tasty and the asparagus was nicely prepared. My date's fish tacos looked nice, too. This is a cool, trendish-y place converted from an old bank, so you can see the old vault in the back. A nice vibe, but it's definitely more of a bar than a dining establishment. The beer list is extensive but the cocktails aren't that good. Seems like a great place to grab a drink, but move on to a real restaurant for dinner.
(3)Melinda R.
I went to Alewife with a friend a Tuesday night. It was an opening night of a play at the Hippodrome nearby so it was PACKED! Once we got seated, we were promptly greeted by our waiter and our orders were taken. I was impressed how fast we got our food considering how crowded it was in there. I ordered the Smoke Burger which was amazing!!! It was perfectly cooked and the duck fat fries were awesome! I'd like to go back one day for happy hour or just dinner. The menu looked good with lots more on it I'd like to try.
(4)Tom M.
This place has so much potential. Nearly 5 stars for me except one time when we had horrible service . They forgot us twice. I will give it another chance I guess. Burger is unbelievable. Decor is so authentic. Feels kinda like Brewers Art in Mt Vernon.
(4)Elaine P.
Unfortunately horrible customer service, to the point where they think they are too good that it doesn't matter how they treat people, outweighs the good food. So sad because it is really convenient to where I work, however after multiple poor experiences my entire office has sworn them off.
(2)Lauren B.
A converted church giving off a hipster vibe, if you have time to wait for balcony seating it offers a great overview of the scene. Alewife has an extensive craft beer selection with knowledgeable staff, but a limited dinner menu. We ordered the Blue Catfish fish tacos which were average, with a crisp topping of fried sweet potato strings that I enjoyed. Duck fat fries are a must try. Bring your appetite if you want the smoked burger, it looked mouth watering and filling!
(3)Miriam D.
The beer selection is exciting, the menu has tasty vegetarian options as well as meat ones, and the space is pleasant and handicap accessible. I have especially enjoyed the black bean veggie burger (they do not skimp on toppings) with fries and chipotle mayo, and several excellent IPAs. The price is very reasonable. The food is a bit more expensive than average bar food, but only by a few dollars. It is definitely worth it.
(4)Joe I.
Total college bar that has a MASSIVE beer selection with surprisingly limited options on tap and insanely delicious duck fat fries. I was happy to have visited the place as it is pretty cool for a one time visit, though at 37 I think I may have been the oldest person there, so that was weird. Overall cool, happy I went, duck fat fries = awesome, but I'd rather check other places in the area out before going back.
(3)Lola W.
Awesome beer selection and the best black bean burger ever. While the fries are awesome, try substituting the side salad instead for a healthier option. It is not your average boring salad. I wish their happy hour went to 7 instead of 630 though.
(5)Jessica S.
We just came here for drinks for a few nights in a row while we were in town, and the beers certainly didn't disappoint. All of the beers on tap have awesome names which really entice you to try them. I also like how the %alc and price are listed as well. Lightweights beware: most of these beers are heavy on the alcohol, none of this weak Coors Light nonsense. We didn't have food here, but we did participate in the pub/trivia quiz... which was laughingly easy compared to ones we're used to :)
(5)Robbie H.
Have heard about Alewife for about a year or two now and finally made reservations far enough in advance to grab dinner before a show at the Hippodrome. The dining room was noisy, and we were just on the other side of the partition adjacent to a very crowded bar area. Throughout dinner I had to strain to hear my fiance. The decor was nice, some interesting stained glass windows, and all was basically clean, strong, and a bit classic. The beer list was impressive and was the best thing about our meal, I had two kinds of beer, both were delicious and unique (and for a change my beers were more expensive than my fiance's cocktails!). Our appetizer, some uninspired mini-crab cakes, came out literally 1 minute before our entrees. I got the Salmon, and my fiance got the Delmonico. Both were decent, but lacking in distinct flavor or execution. The sides were a little better, but nothing better than any of the dozens of fantastic restaurants in Baltimore at a similar price point. We splurged on dessert, and the Orange Blossom cake was delicious. We should have splurged on burgers, as the Alewife burger we saw other people devouring looked great, and may be the only thing other than the beer list worth coming to Alewife for. We decided we'll go back in a few months to try the burger, but aside from that, nothing really had us interested in returning. It's a shame though - we're subscribers to the Hippodrome, and were hoping for a great place to go before a show. Still haven't found anyplace near the Hippodrome that gives a quality meal for the money... aside from the Panera between the Hippodrome and the hospital.
(2)Dina B.
When I cancelled the Annabelle Lee tavern reservation, my husband was very upset, but I told him, 'trust me, you will not be disappointed' with Alewife. As I expected, it was terrific! We arrived at 7:15 for a 7:45 reservation; the place was jammed packed with the pre-theater crowd. By 8:00, the crowd thinned. The beer menu is extensive and I tried the Shafley pumpkin ale - fantastic. I had 2. We started with the garlic Caesar salad which lived up to its name...garlicky and delicious. One of the best Caesars I have had. My husband opted for the short rib, which came with onion rings, corn bread, and asparagus. He loved it. I had the famed smokehouse burger, which rivaled the Fleet Street Kitchen burger for best burger in town. But, Fleet Street took its burger off the menu, so Alewife wins. There are no desserts, so don't save room. Go somewhere else for sweets. The pastry chef left and has not been replaced. Oh well. I think they should work on this. Still, the place was great, good for vegetarians as well as carnivores. Will definitely return.
(4)Jojo S.
Biggest let down of the century. Went t get a bite with my sister. I should have left when the guy at the door told us it would be a 15 minute wait for a table when there were empty tables. The bartender was very nice and told us to sit down. We ordered drinks and their famous burger (medium) to share. Cut it in half and had a bite only t realize it was rare (I'm talking about- warning consuming raw or undercooked meat could make you sick rare) instead of medium. The waitress said she did not know what to do so I asked for the manager. He said he would have them remake it. Fifteen minutes later they gave us the burger cut in half on an bun that was not toasted which I thought was weird. It also did not look as mouth watering as the first burger. I pulled back the bun and realized they recooked the two halves that we had each taken a bite out of. Is that sanitary? I don't think so. Asked for the manager and the check. Went elsewhere to eat.
(1)Maria A.
Nested in a rather sketchy part of town, just a few blocks from Lexington Market and a few blocks from the Orioles/ Ravens stadiums. Therefore on game day expect a lot of traffic and no parking. This old bank has been remodeled into a mohogany panelled pub, giving it a luscious old English feel. First off, I went in there with my partner who is wheat intollerant, the waitress was extremely attentive to her needs and pretty much attentive overall, and I should mention that the place was packed since it was a Ravens game night. As a beer aficionado, I was extremely happy to see their extensive beer list. In fact, I must say I was so pleasently surprised that certain rare beers were available. As far as higher end beers go this place so far carries the greatest selection I have seen in Baltimore, including the locally famous Fells Point landmark Max's (which I also love).The house burger is to die for, absolutelty deliciously juicy and cooked to perfection. I must add that this burger is compiled from high quality cuts not assorted animal parts. The vegetarian black bean patty, for my less flesh loving partner was also delicious. On the other hand, the extremely thin cut fries (fried in duck fat), I can do without. Because they are cut too thin they tend to over absorb the fat they are fried in making them either limp or burnt. To m dissapointment, they do not carry Grey Poupon, leaving me stuck with the neon yellow substance Americans call "mustard". On the other hand the waitress was quick to offer a lovely aioli dipping sauce, which can also be used on your burger. Again skip the fries. Reservations are available during the week but not on the weekends. This is definitively the place to get a sublime burger and a good beer, in fact this is where you will find me when I get that craving again.
(4)Alex G.
Perhaps it was simply a respite from the truly bizarre business trip I was enduring, but eating and drinking at Alewife was one of the most enjoyable experiences I'd had at a pub in a long long time. First, the food: the smoke burger was delicious, and what I've come to realize is a fast-dying art, cooked to perfection (yes, medium-rare means bright pink throughout). My only suggestion would be a slightly more durable bun to handle what is a very serious piece of meat. The duck-fat cooked fries, while no comparison to the standard-bearer (Duckfat in Portland, ME), were also quite good. The beer selection was unrivaled. I finally got to taste a pumpkin ale that didn't taste like liquid pumpkin pie (thanks, Dogfish Head). And the bartendress' t-shirt pretty much summed it up: "I drink real beer because I'm awesome." Well said. Finally, the atmosphere. It has everything you'd expect from a good local bar, including several TVs (which were neither too loud nor too quiet), a lively but not unruly crowd, and stained oak throughout. The most endearing part was when two patrons mounted the bar to perform a song in celebration of having drank 150 different beers at the establishment. They were presented with engraved mugs in honor of their accomplishment, as well as a hearty congratulations from everyone in attendance. I'm only here in Baltimore for a week. I wonder how many times I can come back in that time span?
(5)Beth S.
This place makes me look like a badass every time I bring someone new. It's beautiful--all wooden and classy with ridiculously tall ceilings and the BEER! Oh, the beer. So many options--which rotate frequently--and the servers can speak intelligently on the special characteristics of each beer on the extensive menu. I'm vegan but consistently looking for places that don't make my dietary choices a pain in the ass for my buddies. Alewife has what is apparently a killing burger, and I dig the asparagus side dish as well as the Alewife salad (without cheese). *Vegan side note--if you get nervous about drinks, check out barnivore.com to see if the drinks you like are animal-friendly.* This is an excellent first date place if your date is into beer--lots of things to try and discuss. I've also brought large and small groups of friends here--the atmosphere is accommodating to both. It's usually more of a 30s crowd than a 20s crowd, which is a nice change from Max's in Fells. I love their beer selection too, but the din and fratty atmosphere kind of ruin it for me. Alewife is a little off the beaten path (down by the Hippodrome) but it seems to be developing a following of loyal customers. Get to Alewife. You'll dig it.
(5)Jenice G.
They pour some good local brews, and the smoke burger was super tasty. Be sure to check this place out!
(4)Hung T.
Can someone please tell me why this place is called Alewife? What is an alewife? 0_0 Anyways....this spot is your usual bar hangout for working professionals and grad students. Good for a break after studying. Just go in, grab a table, order a couple beers. Their beer list is MASSIVE. Over 100+ Duck fat fries (seems like every gastro pub/high end bar has em these days) are alright. I dont see what the big deal is. Their signature burger is also just alright. Your first three bites will seem like its the best thing ever. But then you get tired of it real fast. And last time it was a little burnt so it didn't taste that good when i got to those parts. However it was pretty damn juicy. $15 for burger + duck fat fries. A little on the steep side. If you're not careful, the bill can add up reall quick. Overall, a higher end bar with huge beer and wine list, OK food, and good service/ambience.
(3)Pam C.
Great GastroPub. Excellent staff. Awesome Beer selection. Only had appetizers tonight, the crab deviled eggs, very good. Thai peanut sauce wings, good, would have liked more of the peanut sauce. Other patrons were going crazy over their Smoke Burger...with the duck fat fries....will be getting that next time!
(5)Sidney S.
The only thing going for this place is their beer selection. Other than that, food is just ok and service is less than exemplary. The six of us went in for dinner and beers on a Sunday night. The place was mostly empty (about 25% full). I got the smoke burger, which was edible, although the bacon on it was too chewy and clearly of a lower quality. More importantly, service was BAD. Once the waitress learned there were six of us (one of our friends joined later on), she altogether stopped caring. We literally had to track her down 4-5 times to fill up our water glass etc. In the end, she added a 20% to the check, of course. So not a great experience for the price.
(1)Travis D.
Alewife is a unique experience in a city that, lately, has been desperately running away from unique experiences. The environment is modern beerhall-meets-the set of Cheers and it works well. Considering the prices (they're not cheap), the laid-back atmosphere definitely puts one at ease as they await their meal. The beer list is extensive and eclectic without being pretentious. There are some doozies on the bottles list ($25 for a beer from Scotland? ehhh maybe not) but the draft list is a bit more down-to-earth. The menu is meat-centric and awesome. Our party started with the meat & cheese platter. Served on a cutting board, the evening's choices were smoked salmon, chorizo, gruyere, bleu cheese with bread- and it was all fantastic. For the entree I had the smoke burger, which is easily the best burger in Baltimore. Cheesy, smoky, and 125% satisfying. The prices may scream "snobby" but Alewife turned out to be anything but, and I can't wait to save up some sheckles and go back.
(5)Kurt B.
An "A+" bar. It's in an old (like 1800s old) firehouse or something, and there's beautiful high ceilings, stained glass, and exposed brick. It's a terrific building. The smokeburger with herbed duckfat fries was gourmet quality everything, and the side of aioli was divinely spicy and smoky. They have a huge changing draft selection that's a mix of well-loved and obscure craft beers. Clientele are a mix of Hopkins students, yuppies, and tourists. This area doesn't really have 'locals'. That said, for great food and a great beer I can't think of a better place in Baltimore.
(5)Jeff K.
Too hip for happy hour
(3)Tony S.
They nailed the three B's. Beer = cold, Burger = awesome, Bartendress = cute. What else do you want? To put a little more detail, they have an excellent beer selection. Recommend the La Chouffe strong ale. The smoke burger was really good. I like that they serve it one way, you tell them how you want it cooked and move on with your day. This isn't burger king where you give a million details about how you want mushrooms and avocado, etc.. Alewife cooks it their way and you'll like it if your a REAL American. If you don't like it, then you're obviously a commie.
(5)Spencer H.
Been wanting to check out Alewife for a long time, since it's a pretty popular spot. Stopped in last night before seeing a show at the Hippodrome (right across the street). It was super crowded - likely that every other theater patron had the same idea - but the beer list did not disappoint. The first beer I ordered had just kicked, so the bartender recommended a very tasty substitute, no doubt a benefit of having such an extensive selection. After the show we decided to stop back in for a snack and nightcap. Had a bourbon cider which really hit the spot. Everything that came out of the kitchen looked tasty, but menu options were extremely limited for me, a vegan, and my vegetarian companion. I would have given it 5 stars for location, atmosphere, and tasty beverages, but I had to knock off a star for the lack of veg-friendly options. If you're into burgers though, you'll probably love this place!
(4)Sina E.
We decided to go here with some friends who came back for the Thanksgiving holidays and Alewife was an excellent choice. Walking in, the atmosphere was nice, quiet at first, and eventually when the music came on, it wasn't too loud where you couldn't hold a conversation. Up front there is a bar, tables around, and upstairs for more intimate setting. Menu doesn't have too many selections, but it's not such a bad thing. So often restaurants clutter their menu with too many choices, but Alewife has kept it to some nice few selections, giving something for everyone. I got the Cubano for my entree. It was packed with flavor and a nice portion size. Pork loin and virginia ham with mustard relish went well together. The fries on the side was also a hit. Of course, if you come here, you have the choice of variety of beers, and this is really where the restaurant shines. For the beer Connoisseurs, it's great. All the beer selections are written on a big chalk board. Some selections are usually there all year, but others change and seasonal. Overall, I really enjoyed the food and the drinks here. Service was great. Staff was more than happy to help with beer selections, and attentive to everything else we asked for. The combination of all these factors warrants a five stars experience.
(5)Jim D.
Great beer selection and a great place to hang out. Really beautiful spot for a bar. Mellow vibe, usually whatever sporting event is happening on TV, good music selection. Waitstaff is friendly and know their beer. The bean burger is surprisingly good, and the duck fat fries are killer. I am sure they liposuction the ducks, so the combo makes both the animals and the vegetarians happy.
(5)Laura Lee E.
Possibly the best burger I have ever put in my mouth. First visit was to use a Groupon and check the place out. Second visit was because the first was so nice. Oh, and they have enough beer for you to BATHE in it on tap. Cool old bank that has been several things in its history, but makes for a fun and interesting tavern. I like that there are TVs to watch various sporting events, but that there is music playing at a level you can talk with your dinner partners over, rather than TV chatter. Note that you may ask for small samples before choosing from the extensive beer list so you know you love it before you buy it. Service both times was lovely, once at a table, once at the bar. And entertaining. When there on Thursday, the day it was 103 degrees as I walked in, literally, the heavens opened with a vengeance about an hour later.As the bartender opened the inside shutters to reveal the downpour (you couldn't see the Hippodrome across the street!), he turned to the bar and said "Anyone bring an ark? No one panic...just keep drinking beer." The Smoke Burger - An 11oz House Ground Ribeye, Brisket, Skirt and Filet of Beef Burger, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere Cheese, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun, Duck Fat Fries. Served with a full sized steak knife sticking out of the center of the bun, is impressive and delicious. The first time it was prepared absolutely perfectly. The second it was slightly more medium, than medium rare, but that didn't keep me from savoring every bite. The fries are hand cut and crispy-delicious. This may be a slightly pricier adventure that your average 'beer hall' but the food, the 40 beers on tap and the service are well above average.
(4)Kelly M.
The BF finally bought a Groupon and of course it was to a beer house. Bless his hop-filled little heart! The location is right across from the Hippodrome so I imagine parking can be hard to find and I'm sure it's pretty packed when shows are on but we arrived relatively early on a Friday night and had no problem getting a table. The beer menu is (not surprisingly) very large and comprehensive with over 40 beers on tap and pages of unique bottled beers. The prices for the draught beers were not bad and the selection was good although the BF and I had already tried several. But we both found selections we hadn't tried that were very satisfying and well recommended by our server. I was also please to see that although their wine menu is small it was well chosen and there were some good options there although I thought the price for a glass was a bit high. We ordered the mussels for an appetizer. They were solid although I would have liked a bit more bread to soak up the broth. BF ordered the risotto cakes which he really enjoyed. I thought they were fair. I ordered the Cubano sandwich and the duck fat fries. I enjoyed my sandwich and thought the fries were good too however not as good as the Brewer's Art fries. All in all it was a good meal and I liked the atmosphere - it would be a fun place to go to with a group or if I was going to the theater, otherwise it's unfortunately a place I likely won't go often as the location isn't convenient for where we live in the city and without another Groupon in hand I might prefer to spend my $60 bucks somewhere else.
(3)Cornelius E.
I had the smoked burger and it was okay. The grog is definitely a different story. I really enjoyed hanging out one night at this fine alcoholic establishment. It's a beer nerds library of sorts with all the beer selection they have. I cant say the same about the morning after though...guess thats a good sign for the pub.
(4)Christopher T.
What's not to love about this place? Showed up here before the Orioles/Yankees game with my brother in town from NY. Thanks to Yelp it came up as the closest best brewpub between the hotel and Camden. Thanks Yelp, you really came through on this one. Their beer selection is probably the best I've seen in Baltimore in a couple of visits, it will for sure become a regular stop on future trips. As a visitor from DC I was happily shocked at how low the pint prices were here, like $2 a beer cheaper than the exact same thing in DC, and the kicker, everything is $1 off at happy hour. The staff was incredibly friendly as we sat at the bar, good recommendations of beers to try and just all around nice folks. We liked it so much we stopped back again after the game for a couple more, entirely different staff working, still incredibly friendly. It may be on the fancy side by Baltimore standards but the food looked amazing (though we stuck to beers both visits). I'd say skip the mixed drinks here and stick to the impressive beer selection, taps and bottles both. Make sure to also check out the bottom of the menu where they've typed in their "If you don't like your beer/Go F yourself" policy, so succinctly Baltimore, I loved it.
(4)Jennifer O.
I went here for lunch with some others who chose it. I ordered the catfish tacos, which were good, but nothing terribly special. Most of the other people with whom I went with, UMD employees and students, ordered the burger with duck fat fries and swear by it. The fries I snatched weren't the best executed, since they were a little floppy, but the burger looked like a HUGE amount of juicy meat. It took 20 minutes, maybe more between offering and receiving our food, though.
(3)Pissed off A.
Came by on a slow Sunday (plenty of seating) and ordered the bacon cheeseburger, medium rare, with duck fries - a truly satisfying meal! Now that football season is back, I'll definitely come back here again after catching a game!
(4)Ravi D.
The waiters and servers are rude. Will never go there again! We went there when only 3 tables were being served. It took the restaurant about 15 minutes to serve water. I noted that the server didn't introduce himself and almost threw the glasses around.
(1)Steven D.
Synopsis: Atmosphere: 3.5/5 Service: 4/5 Taste: 5/5 Price: 3.5/5 Selection: 4/5 This place is mainly a bar with some food items. While the food may be a little low in selection, the food items are so very good to eat. The selection of beers is so very long it is crazy. The atmosphere of this place is pretty good. Built in an old bank, and has the original interior it seems. However, when I went the music was a little loud. I was still able to talk, but it could have been turned down. I have been there other times and the music was fine, but the most recent time it was a little loud. I went in the evening, so that could have been the case. Service wasn't bad at all. Got the food in a very reasonable amount of time, the server was nice, and we got our beers in a quick time too. The taste is excellent. I got the burger they have to offer and it was awesome. I have had the burger multiple times and it never fails to impress me. The fries they have are made in duck fat and are great. The selection, as I said early, could be expanded in the food department. While the food is great, I feel like there could be more food. The drinks however are perfect. So many to choose from. Now the price of the food is good for the quality, but the amount for the drinks is a little high. I believe this place is a microbrewery, so it is going to be high, but it seemed quite pricy for my tastes. The beers that I got were really good, but cost a pretty penny. Overall, if you want a good burger and good beer then this place will be for you. Just be prepared to pony up a good amount of cash.
(4)Kaylee H.
I really like Alewife's beer selection. They have an incredible array of really rare (hipster. beautifully hipster) beers. Also, I must say that I have *ahem* selflessly volunteered myself to quality check their kamakaze shots on multiple occasions. They have received my stamp of approval. I really like their burgers, which come with some nice duck fat fries. On Mondays they have a really fun trivia night, which I have never managed to win, but there are prizes for the winners.
(5)Steve G.
Alewife has one of the better beer selections in the area but be prepared to pay Manhattan prices. Most are between $7 and $11 for a 12oz pour which works out to about $9-$15 a pint. If you want a beer and a $16 burger this place is just OK, the rest of the menu (I have been several times prior to concerts at the Hippodrome) is pretty disappointing. This time I thought I would order the chicken waffle sliders and all they are is a Chick Fil A nugget and a bit of bacon and cheese between two mini Eggo frozen waffles - like the ones you toast and break into 4. I was speechless. $14 for three of them. It should be offered as an appetizer for $8. I finished my meal before my buddy was 1/4 way through his burger. The fellow on the table next to me got some other similar slider 'entree' and ended up eating that and half his wife's burger. Decor is interesting. It's an old bank with wood paneling, old wood floors and peeling paint. Clientele seems to be a lot of hipster dudes with full beards and backpacks. It's that kind of place. The saving grace is the beer selection but as previousuly mentioned, take your check book. Worth a try if you're off to the Hippodrome, otherwise, I wouldn't go out of my way to find this place.
(2)Z S.
If you're going for a beer - 3.5 stars. Anything else 1.5 stars. Do not order the chicken and waffle sliders, all they are is deep fried mini eggo waffles ( the ones you put in the toaster and break into 4 mini pieces) a large chicken nugget, small piece of bacon and cheese. And there's only 3 of them. For $14......? Absolutely absurd. Granted they were decent, there's no way I can give more than two stars. Especially because the server brought me shrimp and grits sliders!!
(2)Leo O.
Came here with a group of 11 and we had no issues getting seated. Granted it was on a tuesday evening. We all ordered from their draught section and one of us ordered their fried oysters. In terms of the fried oysters, it was just okay. Basically it was spicy buffalo wings sauce but over oysters. It didn't go well together. Frying oysters didnt work well either because it tasted even more soggy due to the inherent texture of oysters. I am no expert in beers but I actually liked the beer that I got: Flying Dog Dead Rise. I liked the subtle hint of spicyness in the beer due to the old bay spice. It wasn't too hoppy for me. They give a decent sized glass. Service was decent. Only thing was that the table had not been wiped down before we sat down and was not wiped down throughout our time there. I would recommend this place if you wanted to go somewhere else but still near the convention center. In terms of food, if the appetizer was any representation, I would be hesitant in recommending their food.
(3)Steve L.
Oddly, the burger is the worst part of the otherwise great Smoke Burger. Hit the Alewife (incidentally the Red Line terminus in Cambridge, MA) late Preakness Saturday to soak up racetrack alcohol and winnings. Glad to see it open until two. Got the ballyhooed Smoke Burger with duckfat fries, and the initial impression was one of terrific flavor; unfortunately, this did not hold up with extended chewing. The culprit was an altogether unseasoned beef patty. Though it was clear that it was recently broken down from a fine slab of meat, they didn't bother to pursue beef umami Nirvanna. Basically a slab of grilled (premium) ground beef. The thick cut bacon saved the burger, but the star should have been the beef. Next time, Alewife, finish your signature burger.
(3)Caitlin R.
I've heard good things about this place and I've been meaning to try it. We came as a group of 14 (had a 7:30 reservation) and were seated in the back room. After reading so-so reviews of this place, I decided I wasn't going to listen to that, because the menu looked simple and good, and the beer list was extensive! I read someone's review from 2012, and it was EXACTLY what I wanted to say. It seems like things haven't changed much. But here's my take: Bad service - the waitress walked by us quite a few times before ever even coming over and saying anything. We were waiting for friends to trickle in to eat, but would have loved to get started with a beer. Also, she would come to half of the table and walk away before asking anyone else if they needed anything. This pretty much caused me anxiety because I felt rushed and like I always had to be on the look out for her. She would also come over to take an empty glass, or regretfully inform us that they didn't have a beer, the keg was kicked, or they were out of that, and not ask if anyone else needed anything. Food - Meh. Had better. Brussels, skip. Go to Rocket to Venus instead if you want some bomb ass brussels. Shrimp and Grits - the best thing I tried on their menu. The sauce that accompanies the fried grit balls with the shrimp completes the dish. Delicious. The Smoke Burger - about 6 of them ordered Medium rare to Medium range....6 of them came out well done. Who wants this "amazing" burger well done? (the menu says to please be patient when ordering this because it may take a while....maybe that's why, because they are cooking them all well done.....just saying). The Roasted Eggplant Dip - strong flavors, but salty. Not worth $10 bucks. The black bean burger - It's fine. Nothing special. I couldn't taste the difference between the regular fries and the duck fat fries. Go to Annabelle Lee's (in Canton/Highlandtown) for some better duck fat fries (and a good beer selection). Drinks - Great selection, but they were out of a lot, the keg was kicked, or they just didn't have some. Beware - the whiskeys don't have prices - Whistle Pig Boss Hog - $34. I had the Burley Oak Tart Attack ($7) - and it was delicious. I also ordered the Bahn It To Me (Vodka, pickled carrots, cilantro, carrot tops, lemon, and cayanne). I really enjoyed this very interesting cocktail, and props to them for trying something different and ballsy, but it was served without the cilantro and carrot tops. I asked for the cilantro, and was given it on the side, I'm not sure if it was supposed to be muddled or what, but I just added it. Good flavor. Atmosphere - Neat. Used to be an old bank. If you have a table of 4, you can sit inside one of the old vaults which is pretty cool. So bottom line: If you work in the area and had a rough day or you are seeing a show at the Hippodrome, sure, stop in for a drink or 2. If you're looking for dinner and drinks, go somewhere else. There are a ton of other awesome places in the city. Personally, I won't be back.
(2)Clare C.
Met up with some co-workers here after work. The ambiance made for a fun experience, and the beer list was impressive. The shrimp/grits croquettes were certainly delicious, although definitely a bit overpriced for the amount of food - a burger or other sandwich would have been better bang for my buck. I'd go back for a drink and atmosphere, but probably not for food.
(4)Randy G.
Inside has a nice appeal with the restaurant being a former bank. The vault and it's big think steel door remains giving it a cool look. Once the server mentioned it, you can begin recognizing the old bank layout shell. It's neat how they have preserved it while still giving it it's own interior design. They have a great selection of beer with some very good local options to try. We started with the Shrimp Grits and Thai Chicken Wings. These are two great starters with the plates being cleared. The shrimp was cooked nicely along with the grits. It had nice flavor contrast between the two. The wings are a get-again dish with the sauce the true star. The chicken was tender and the sauce had a great sweet and tangy flavor to draw you in for the next wing. On the server's recommending, they are supposed to be known for their burgers. Therefore why not try their signature Smoked Burger with Duck Fat Fries. Well, they probably could have kept both and wish I had tried something else. This place started on such a great note, but fizzled out with their so called star. The burger was cooked to my liking, but didn't have any of the flavor I was expecting. Smoked? Not sure if the meat was supposed to have a smoked flavor or the cheese. Either way, I didn't get any of it. For the fries, they were more of the soggy texture than a nice outer crunch and soft inside. They either were sitting around or not cooked long enough. They started off with a few good hits in the beginning, but struck out later in the game.
(3)Rachel L.
On a Friday evening for dinner, my friend Nicole and I were looking to grab a burger and a beer and just catch up. If you're looking for a burger in Baltimore, many are familiar with Abbey Burger which is constantly being written up as the best burger in Baltimore. And if you want plenty of options, that's a great spot. But when you're craving a a great burger, and you don't feel like building it yourself, Alewife is worth a visit. It's also one of the many spots in Baltimore that I have a City Dining Card for. After sitting down and looking over the impressive drink menu, seriously this place is worth a visit for its beer list alone. My friend and I each decided to get the burger. I got it because I know how awesome it is, she probably got it because I hyped it up all day long. The Smoke Burger is 11oz of beef topped with smoked gouda, gruyere, bacon, caramelized onion, and chipotle aioli on a brioche bun. And if that burger isn't amazing enough on its own, it comes with a side of duck fat fries. This burger is so juicy and packed with delicious smoky flavors. It's hands down my favorite burger in Baltimore. If you're looking for a notable beer list and a great burger, I'd highly recommend Alewife.
(4)GT W.
Huge amount of tap system in a near chapel-like space with massive dark wood beam rafters and a high ceiling with balconies looking down. We had great service and very good food like "Kobe beef" hotdogs, turkey legs, barbecue pork. Decent bottle list. Even though the tap list is very large, the variety isn't as impressive as Stillwater's Of Love & Regret or Max's. However, I think the food and ambiance here is much better than Max's.
(3)Alex F.
Great burger and duck fat fries. Large selection of really good beers, but pricey. In a sketchy area of bmore.
(4)Becca R.
Came back to Alewife a few weeks ago on a rare date night for some drinks and dinner. My suspicions were right that we should have made reservations, but we were lucky to snag the last two seats at the bar. It was packed wall to wall by the time we left. You have to not only take into account shows at the Hippodrome, but also the Arena and Everyman Theatre. The bartender was great, sometimes it's just more fun sitting at the bar, so it worked out. Some changes since I wrote my last review, they have a beer menu with the prices listed, which I appreciate. We both got the black bean burger and it was delicious. I love when restaurants make their own veggie burger patties because I am so sick those frozen patties dressed up in different ways. Alewife's burger had a little flavor kick to it and the fries were also good. Definitely will be back the next time we see a show at the arena as this is now the tradition.
(4)Cam K.
Good beer selection. Snake head cakes was a good appetizer. Smoked burger was ok. Overall pretty cool upscale bar. Would not get the burger again
(3)Patience M.
Service was good. But the menu is rather limited. My party of 10 decided to order the pork-belly mac&cheese fries as an appetizer which was good (the collard greens and mac&cheese were really good) but the fries on their own were just blah! Most entrees are served with a side of fries, I think more options for sides would be great. I had the black bean burger which was juicy and fairly good. I was disappointed that they skimped on the guacamole. In retrospect, I should have asked if they offer a salad substitute for the fries. It was Monday night - trivia night and the group participated, which was fun to do non-competitively.
(3)Eileen H.
I was so disappointed by my experience at Alewife. We went around lunchtime on a weekend. There were a number of parties in there, but didn't look like it had been packed all morning or anything, so I was surprised when our waitress told us that the first THREE items that we wanted weren't available! The menu is very short, so that's something that they should have a handle on. This really damaged my experience there. Also, the fact that they don't have caffeinated coffee (I mean, it's a bar, so I didn't really expect coffee, but was surprised when our waitress said they served decaf, but not caffeinated? Finally, the women's bathroom is on a completely different floor than the eating/drinking area. The ambiance is charming, and our waitress was wonderful. The food was pretty good, and I thought it was really cool that they marked off entrees that make use of invasive or over-populated species. If my friends were dying to go back, I'd try it again, but at this point, wouldn't really recommend it to anyone.
(2)Mindy M.
Grilled goat cheddar cheese and bacon sandwich with smokey tomato jam soup. A+. Skip the Thai peanut wings- very pedestrian. More soon- enjoying the O's ALDS game 1 win!!!!!!
(3)Christopher W.
This would be my second time coming to this place due to me not really remembering if I liked or disliked the place. The lesson I learned was that there was not a reason for Alewife to make me remember liking the place. Nothing really against the waiter that helped me, but he really was frustrating to deal with. I simply asked if I could switch the cheeses to cheddar on the burger, and his reply was that I am not allowed to change anything on the burger. I didnt really understand why. Was the burger premade? was the burger toppings not allowed to be put on the side? After a long time of talking with him, it simply came down to the fact that they did not stock any other cheeses. So I just simply asked if the cheese could be omitted and my burger cooked medium rare. Now, at this point in time I was pretty frustrated and prayed to god that the burger was kick ass because I seldomly eat burgers without cheese. The result? terri-bad... not only was the burger not cooked medium rare, but the patty did not have much taste to it. The really only saving grace was that the fries were good and the beer selection they had was good. BTW, the lunch selection is very small... better to come for dinner as they do NOT serve the dinner menu during lunch time.
(3)Ivy C.
Visited twice. I ordered the Smoke Burger but sadly it came well done instead of medium rare. I ate it anyway because it took so long. I didn't taste any "smoky" flavor which I expected too given the name . The patty was very dry so I had to wash eat bite down with my drink. The fries were nice and crispy but I couldn't taste any hint of the duck fat that they are supposed to be fried in. At $16.00 I expected better, but it was just "meh...". The second visit I ordered the fish tacos which were good, not great , but good ...but I was still hungry and ordered the thai wings which arrived cold and had the texture of boiled chicken skin coated in some spicy sauce, not what I expected. Our waiter took forever to take each of our orders, they were busy but it seemed like other people were being looked after just fine. On the plus side I do like the atmosphere there and it is a great place to try out a variety of draft beers. So even though the food I ordered was unimpressive... The concept is good but I believe there is room for improvement. I wanted to give 3.5 stars but there are no halfsies on Yelp :-( I will still go back but probably stick with some appetizers at the bar.
(3)Kate A.
Great place in downtown Baltimore. On a cold, snowy winter day, perhaps it's a bit of a walk from the Inner Harbor. The fish tacos are phenomenally good, so good that I'm glad that I walked in the snow to enjoy them. There are a wide variety of beers to choose from. The noise level is high (at least on Friday nights). Service is good.
(4)Timothy S.
Had a great time at Alewife this evening. Val the bartender was amazing, well versed in her beer knowledge. Thank you so much for your great service! Had a few beers from their 40 tap system all of which were quite uncommon and served in the correct, clean, glassware. Everyone on the staff was quite attentive and super helpful, my glass was never left empty. I will definitely be back soon.
(5)Allison R.
Baltimore has so many great places to eat and this is one of those places. We went yesterday for opening day for the first time. Of course it was packed, but we were still able to get some drinks. We also were able to snag a table... The host was awesome! The food did take a while but you know what, we got a table on opening day. And it was worth it! My husband and I split the Brussels sprouts and the smoke burger with duck fat fries. The Brussels sprouts were buttery and topped with bacon crumbles. Yum. The burger was cooked perfectly (though it wasn't as special as the description made it sound, but it was still delicious). The bun was buttered and fluffy, and I'm really picky about bread. I won't eat it if it isn't fresh and not worth the calories. Not the case here. Oh let's not forget the... Duck. Fat. Fries. That's all I'll say about that. The orange crushes I enjoyed (um... Opening day!) were made with fresh oranges. Fresh freaking oranges sliced and squeezed on the spot for your order. They were $6 and amazing. Great way to kick of the season despite the loss. Definitely stop by to pre game, but expect to stand unless you get lucky. I don't think they typically take reservations but they did for opening day. Worth calling ahead and asking.
(5)Jenny B.
Not a huge fan of Alewife: I find their menu to be limited and overpriced. Although I live like 2 min walking distance away, I don't often go because I feel like the food is not worth it for the price. The menu consists of burgers and other typical bar menu foods. I think there are more worthwhile places nearby (like Maiwand grill!) to go to!
(3)Frank S.
I firmly believe that Alewife has the best curated selection of beer in Baltimore. They always have a thoughtful variety and I'm never left without many options. I think the atmosphere is enjoyable and I've not seen it too crowded. As far as vegan fare, not too much. I've only had the Black Bean Burger on a ciabatta roll (minus chipotle aioli) and french fries, but it's quite good. For drinking: 5 stars. For vegan dining: 3 stars (just because they at least have something. Overall: 4 stars.
(4)Brook H.
We only ate here for lunch on a Sunday afternoon, so our review is rather limited. The location was rather empty, with only a single server, single bartender, and very few patrons. This place may be completely different during a weekend evening, so we can only comment on the service and food. Our server was perfectly fine and attentive, so there was little to report there. The food was very good and nicely done, but they had a very limited menu. I'm not sure if it expands during busy hours but I can see people with strict palates having problems. Their duck fat fries were awesome, though, and I think they are a must! The decor is really cool, as the building is rather old. Again, maybe when it's prime time, full of people, live music, etc., the feel of this place becomes more vibrant. Otherwise, it was like visiting a historic building and just sitting quietly. If I ever find the time to truly enjoy the night life (which means escaping kids and responsibilities), I'll give it a try again. I see a lot of potential that maybe I just missed on my singular visit.
(3)Liz J.
In case you didn't know, Alewife offers 40 beers on tap! This is really for those of you who have never been to Alewife, because as soon as you walk in the door, you're surrounded by signs letting you know about their extensive draft selection. And you know what? It's a pretty good selection. Even I, a very picky beer drinker, found something delicious. The nice part about the drafts is that you can ask for a sample if you're feeling adventurous, but don't want to commit to the sticker price of a full glass. The food was really good, although the food menu is much smaller than the drink menu. I had the soup of the day (broccoli and gouda), and although I could feel the heavy cream going right to my hips, every bite was delicious. Well, every bite but the last bite, which I couldn't get, because the soup was served in a square bowl, leaving some of that creamy goodness to the dishwasher. Soup shouldn't go in square bowls! Salad? Sure. Mac and cheese? Perhaps. But soup? Round bowl please! I also had a black bean burger which had some good flavor, and was accompanied by sweet potato fries. I'm still not sure whether or not I liked the seasoned mayo that came with the dish, but I couldn't stop dipping my fries into it because it had a really interesting flavor. Besides the signs making sure you know they have 40 beers on tap, it had a nice ambiance. There are two sections - the front with the bar and tvs for people trying to catch a game and hang out with friends. We sat in the back section and had a bit of a quieter evening away from the tvs, and in the freezing weather, got a cozy spot right by the fireplace. So there are definitely options depending on what you want.
(4)Barathi S.
I always get the same thing here, which I usually don't like doing but if you know what you like... The black bean burger and alewife salads are awesomely delicious. The burger is a thick party and very soft on the inside. It comes with yummy thin cut fries (which I prefer over the duck fat fries) . The salad is also amazing with candied nuts blue cheese and apples ... Mm could really go for that now! They have tons of beers on tap and will happily offer you a suggestion if you tell them your taste preferences. The decor (a converted old bank) is also great. If you are trivia inclined then check it out on Monday evenings.
(4)Bernie C.
I can't believe I haven't written an Alewife review yet! An extensive collection of beers. The recommendations are usually pretty great. I'm just going to mention the smokehouse burger and duck fat fries because they are in fact delicious and should be mentioned despite the fact that every person on here has mentioned them. Still, I am here to advocate for the veggies and the appetizers. The chicken liver pate was such a happy little jar of food for me. Tasty. Delicious toast. The crispy artichokes made me re-fall in love with artichokes. Even people who don't like artichokes will like the crispy artichokes. Because those artichokes that come from a can that people put on salads? Not really the best artichokes can taste. The tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons = adorable. Nothing too too special, but grilled cheese croutons? Cute factor. I am also a fan of their Brussel sprouts. I love brussel sprouts though. My future child will watch television shows where the child won't eat the Brussel sprouts and just laugh at their stupidity. I am also a fan of their macaroni and cheese. Cheesy. Very hot. Salty creamy happiness. Fellow diners, if you feel you must get the burger, get the burger. But definitely explore that lite fare side of the page to start or share.
(4)Christian C.
Was excited to try this place out after seeing the head chef hanging out with Andrew Zimmern on Bizarre Foods (not that I was expecting to eat bugs or anything weird). After a really long wait, our group of 5 was unceremoniously seated in a room on the 2nd floor with no windows, no view, nothing. Oh, it was right across the hall from the women's bathroom. Gross. Avoid this room at all cost. We were starving so we stayed put. During our interminable wait for a table, I checked out the menu and was impressed with their beer offerings so I was really looking forward to trying some new brews. When I ordered my flight, I was informed that there was only one bartender working and they were slammed so I wouldn't be able to pick what beers I wanted in my flight. Say what? Fail. The shrimp po boy that I ordered was nothing to write home about, but the fries that came with it cooked in duck fat were delicious. My friends ordered the Smoke burger which was fantastic. The patty was huge but still cooked to perfection, and the different cheeses and the brioche bun tied it all together. If I ever come back, THAT'S what I'm ordering (as long as there is more than one bartender working).
(2)Steve H.
Ask Gabe, a Redskins fan so obviously a good guy, for beer and food recommendations. Tell him you know a guy who was with "Steve" (not me, but someone else in my group) and you'll be in for a treat. Allagash Black, Old Rasputin, Catfish Tacos, Duck Fries, and Smoke Burger are all great choices.
(4)Ryan Z.
Alewife is one of my favorite finds in Baltimore. The atmosphere is great, and the owners did a superb job with the adaptive reuse of the old buildings that now make up this restaurant. I'm not much of a drinker, but I really enjoyed trying a couple beer samples (for free) and picking out the perfect pint with the help of a kindly waitress. What really stood out was how excellent the food was for being at a bar. We started with the truffled mac and cheese - rich and creamy with a couple of truffle shavings (nice touch!) and a 'grown-up' flavor courtesy of the truffle oil. The crab cakes were surprisingly delicious. I pushed off the corn and tomato dressing so I could focus on tasting the crab, and I was not let down. The cakes appeared to have been fried in a light beer batter which was a welcome surprise. These aren't going to be enormous jumbo lump cakes like you'd get at Faidley's or Gunning's but they were very good to say the least, and the delicate flavor of crab wasn't overwhelmed by any fillers. I had the smoke buger (without aioli), and I was not disappointed. While my burger came out medium instead of medium rare as ordered, I was very satisfied with the enormous (3/4 lb) juicy patty and applewood smoked bacon (which I might add was fried to perfection) all on slightly-charred brioche. It is definitely one of the top 10 burgers I've ever had. Downside: it was so big and so filling that I didn't have room for dessert!
(4)Ross B.
One of the best burgers in baltimore. Prepare to wait for it though cause it takes a little while. It's worth it though. Also awesome beer selection. Make sure to sample something before you order it because you can't send it back but they are more than happy to sample it. Service kinda sucks though.
(4)Thomas M.
I highly recommend this place... Beer is always fresh out of the tap and the food is amazing. If you have the pleasure of having Leila as your bartender you absolutely will not be disappointed. She is an amazing bartender!!!!
(5)Jessica D.
I'll be honest I've eaten here once a few years ago and it was ok. Decided to try again and never got past the host stand. Last night in the tornado watch and extreme downpour I was driving to make my reservation at 6 pm. White knuckled and delayed I couldn't call to alert the restaurant of my problem. I arrived 20 minutes late and soaking wet (I mean soaking wet). As I approached the host stand I was greeted by an uninviting host who said "sorry I sat your table". I asked "You're kidding me? With the weather and tornado watches you decided that I was a no show? Why didn't you call me since when I made the reservation you asked for my cell phone?" His reply was I have 30-40 no shows a night so I sat people. " Is that my problem? Maybe he should consider taking NO reservations. I'm in the service business near DC. I see patients every 20 mins. If one of them is late my staff calls and makes sure they are okay and still coming. If they arrive more than 10 mins late we let them know that we will still see them, offer them coffee, tea, water and a snack. We accommodate them. The man ( he definitely wasn't gentle) last night did nothing of the sort. He was cold, unforgiving, and completely not customer focused. I will never give the restaurant a chance because of his lack of service. The least he could have said was "I'm sorry Mrs ---- you are late for your reservation and I gave your table away. I'd be happy to have your party join our happy hour crowd and get you a table ASAP". But instead after the iced cold shoulder we went next door to Forno where we greeted with smiles and warm towels.
(1)Victoria S.
Thanks to my fellow yelpers this is my go-top spot whenever I am in Baltimore to see a show at the Hipp! I've been here a couple times now and I can honestly say I am a big fan. First of all, if you like beer. You will be in heaven. Not only do they have two pages of menu items of bottles of every type of hard cider, pale ale and pilsner imaginable they also have an extensive list of beers on draft. I try a few things every time I'm there. Of course I am always overwhelmed but the servers are normally so well informed they can walk you through the best choices. They offer to bring samples which is great, as so many choices, it's hard to pick the perfect ale! If you want a burger, you came to the right place. The Steakhouse burger is one of their specialties but NOTE: If you want it - order it IMMEDIATELY as it takes longer than anything else on the menu! Duck fat fries are divine as well as the Boar meatballs. Plenty of choices to please every palate. Some words to the wise. If you're going before a show at the Hippodrome, or on a night there IS a show. I'd definitely advise getting reservations. There is a lot of seating but best to be safe. Another tip, make sure to give yourself a lot of time. That delicious food needs time to be prepared. Go with enough time to have a few cocktails and enjoy your time there. My ONLY complaint is the noise level in the back room. High ceilings with minimal wall art makes it quite echoey - I had a hard time chatting the last time I was there. The first time I was in the main dining area and it was fine but when it fills up it gets LOUD.
(4)Harold S.
Based on the reviews, it seemed like this place is hit or miss. Tonight was beyond miss. The sign at the podium says wait to be seated, however no one is there. I wandered into the bar where no one will acknowledge your.. The finally your shouted at to sit anywhere you want. After sitting it took over 10 minutes to get a beer. Finally we just left. The tables were sticky and the menus where very soiled as well. Will not return.
(1)Luke B.
Being from Boston, I had to visit Alewife while in Baltimore. Huge beer selection and we were able to sample our beer before we ordered a full one. The food was fantastic. I had the smoke burger and it was AWESOME!!!! My girlfriend had the mac & cheese and it was amazing. The duck fat fries were to die for! Service was exceptional and they were knowledgeable about the food and beer selection.
(5)Bex G.
I had such high hopes for this place with their beer list and location. We made a reservation on open table and when they tried to seat us, it was a windowless cave and hardly any light. The whole restaurant was open and the hostess made a comment that they were all booked for the evening. She finally moved up to a room with light. We ordered beer and that was good. If you are going to have a menu with limited food items then they should be good. We ordered the brussels sprouts and fried artichokes for an appetizer for our table to four. When they arrived, not plates were given to us and I saw our server give plates to a table that was seated after us. The fried artichoke hearts were good enough, but the brussels sprouts were under cooked, not roasted and lacked all flavor. I had to fix them with some salt and pepper. Since the server never came to check on us, I had to get up and go ask for salt and pepper because there were none on the tables. We ordered the $16 burger for our main meal it at least filled me up before the baseball game. But for $16, I wouldnt order it again. I asked for medium and the burger was well done. I asked for an extra side of mayo, only to find out that they charged me $0.50 for less than 2 ounces and didnt give me a warning about this would happen. It looks like the chef should focus less on invasive species on the menu and either train the cooks to make flavorful food. Also, dont put a dish on a very limited menu already if it isnt going to be great. By the way, Manny Machado is an invasive species, so they should consider putting him on the menu (Go A's!) After this poor experience, I will not visit this establishment again. For those that want beer, only go for the beer and that is all.
(1)Dave F.
Came for Happy Hour. Their happy hour consists of roughly 12 drafts (the list changes as they run out of beer), 2 wines, beer mussels, a taco of the day, and duck fries; where each of these are $5 from 4-7pm. While they did have 40 taps for beer, we stuck to the happy hour menu as we were bar-hopping. The beer list rotates, but they seem to stock heavily in stone and flying dog beer. I saw a smattering of random stuff from Yards to Boulevard to Ballast Point brewing companies. From the happy hour list, we had a Terrapin pumpkinfest, hofbau oktoberfestbier, gaffel kolsch, and the taco of the day which was chimi churri flavored. The beers were awesome, the taco was rather bland. A group next to us got the duck fat fries and they looked pretty good, but alas we wanted to hit up a few other bars. Service was also really good. Both bartenders were quick and on top of things. The decor was your average bal'more bar setting. Huge ceilings, kinda divey and old looking. Several TV's also allow you to catch a game if thats what you were into. I'd come back if I was in the mood for trying more exotic and distant beers and maybe try food off the real menu, but the taco was not a good indication of the food if that was the only thing I could use to judge them.
(3)Patrick M.
Good beer. Lots to chose. Stone self righteous. Yum Good appetizers before the show.
(5)Elsa M.
Since everyone gets the burgers, let me put ya'll up on game: next time you go, skip it just once and try a salad instead. I can hear you now and I don't want to hear: try it and THEN come back and thank me. I damn near licked the bowl of the Alewife Salad after I finished. Juicy chunks of chicken made their home on a bed of fresh mixed greens, asparagus, and crumbly light blue cheese. Pears lightly seasoned with cinnamon and candied walnuts added some crunch and a bit of sweetness. I paired my salad with a glass of Riesling, which made my lunch break absolutely perfect. I haven't had a salad that good in AGES! I was rushing from meeting to meeting and my server was beyond nice and accommodating to my tight schedule. There weren't a lot of people in there, but I knew that he had work to do as he and another employee were busy getting ready for dinner. Still, he was more than friendly and took the time to explain everything on the menu, which I appreciated. I know Alewife is all about the beer, but the smells of good times and spilt beer overwhelmed me a bit when I walked in. I wasn't expecting it to be that strong in the middle of the day. Eventually I got used to it, but that was my only deduction in stars. I totally get why others (less picky than I, I suppose) gave it five.
(4)Rochelle M.
Currently in town for a business trip. This place is a MUST for anyone visiting. A very large selection of different beers. Even though I don't drink any, they also have some cider. I highly recommend the Original Sin Cider Elderberry. For atmosphere, it has a cozy pub feel. Clean with an ambiance of a laid back local place. The servers are awesome. The one my friends and I had was a gal named Sarah. She was very attentive to our needs and well knowledgable on the different brews and menu items. The place is a bit above moderate prices, but the food is excellent. Had the empanadas as an appetizer that was delicious that came with a yummy arugula salad and black bean mix. For my entree, I had the fish tacos that had sweet potato fries that first had taken me aback, but worked really well. I normal end up getting the remainder of my food to go, but I finished every last bite. The menu has a decent but small variety of items, but very diverse for people of all needs. My vegetarian friend had the vegetable ragout that looked very good and apparently was because he finished all of it. I'm here for a few more weeks and will be visiting again.
(5)Jordan M.
Had a beautiful experience here in a crazy snowstorm - the waitress on duty, Elise, was friendly and communicative during this winter armageddon and the food and drink was excellent. They stayed open with a smile in a blizzard and provided a fantastic and chill environment to weather the storm. I Highly recommend Alewife !
(5)Jodi A.
-4 stars for atmosphere, easy. Maybe even 5 stars for atmosphere. -1 star deduction for making our meal feel incredibly rushed, despite the place being relatively quiet/empty. We had drinks, appetizers and dinner for 2 and were out in less than 45 minutes
(3)Michael Z.
Overwhelmingly mediocre complimented with abhorrent service and outrageous prices. After I had consumed my $9 and $7.50 beers, which were good, but hardly worth the price of a 6 pack of specialty crated or imported beers. My friends received equally subpar service with their $10 coke and jacks (weak) and $10 margaritas which were made so slow that I could feel my beard growing (also weak). Luckily they were strong enough and I was inebriated enough to go without noticing that I had sat at my table for 15 minutes as I spoke with my friends. After ordering I had waited for well over 30 minutes, near 40, (keeping in mind it is dead) for my food which was unimpressive to say the least. Which, of course, I still could not eat due to the fact that half the table was missing dinnerware. I ordered the gumbo and received a Luke warn plate with uncooked rice. The same can be said for 3 other people at my table. I was able to speak to my waitress after 5 minutes and order new food. After another 10-15 I received my dish finally properly prepared and had finished and sat for another 5-10 before my other friends had received their replacement meals, the smoke burger... Which should have been chicken. After being here for 3, yes THREE, hours we had finally received our checks. Which the 10 of us had received in a pile and had to sort through ourselves. Only one of the 4 of us with botched orders had some effort of compensation for their terrible service. After paying the check, cards and bills were improperly matched and charged wrong. I'm exhausted, I'm done, I'm paying and cutting my loses and never coming back. If you heat your home by burning money and love going places to be ignored and charged steep prices for something you can prepare at home in half the time for a quarter of the cost, then this is the place for you.
(1)Colleen D.
I think my husband and I fell in instant love with this place. It's in easy walking distance to the pier and touristy downtown but doesn't seem to be primarily a tourist destination. The ambiance is nice- warm wood, rustic and casual, but definitely clean and fun. There are a few TVs (showing the Ravens game, of course), and huge chalkboard listings of the beers on tap to supplement the huge menu of offerings. I'm going to come out and say it- I'm not a beer person. I've tried, and I like to experience new beers, but I'm still not that into it. I do, however, appreciated quality and I was impressed by the offerings of crafted brews. My husband (who IS the beer snob) was over the moon with it all. I stuck with the house cocktails, trying the Re-Root: a rootbeer liqueur with vodka and Baileys... It was the perfect adult rootbeer float with a nice, sharp kick to it. The cocktail selection is unique and varied and I'm excited to go back and try more.at What I was most excited about was the menu. We're new to the area and I'm always suspicious of the quality of vegetarian offerings. Alewife nailed it! No sad wilted salads and pasta primavera for me. I had an amazing grilled cheese (goat milk cheddar, arugula, an tomato jam) paired with a smoky, robust soup. It was like heaven. The menu also offers some delicious salad options, a black bean burger, truffle mac and cheese, and a stuffed chile relleno (which I plan on trying the next time in although the mac and cheese is mighty tempting...) They offer lunch and dinner menus. The prices are definitely worth the quality. The servers and staff are attentive, knowledgeable, an friendly. This is definitely going to be a spot of multiple returns and bringing friends and family to when they come visit the area!
(5)Jonathan S.
I've been to Alewife many times and normally have a good time. They have a decent, ever-changing beer selection and excellent food. But the service is typically subpar, and my last experience there was terrible (see below). A group including myself were attending a 7:00 O's game, so we went to Alewife beforehand and were seated at 5:30. The restaurant was busy, but no more than usual. We waited 10 minutes for service, and put in our food orders at 5:40. At 6:30 (1 hour after we were seated) we were told the food would be 5 more minutes. It wasn't until 6:55, nearly 1.5hrs after we arrived, that the food came out. By then it was too late, and we had to leave without eating in order to make the O's game. The experience was extremely disappointing, as I have been going to Alewife for a number of years. Being busy is no excuse b/c 1) it is ALWAYS busy, and 2) three tables seated after us got their food 15min before us. The wait staff provided many excuses, but no solutions or apologies. I will not be back for a while.
(2)Chris F.
Yummy food, quick service and nice ambiance. It can get a bit loud and boisterous, but it's a bar, so waddya expect? Fries are good, duck fat or not, burgers are good, fish is cooked right. Those that drink enjoy the beer selection. Love that they put invasive species on the menu. And they are yummy!
(5)Kyle H.
Came here on our anniversary get away weekend. Bartender was super friendly. This place has great history and he told us all about it! My wife's phone was dying and he let her plug it in behind the bar! Fantastic service! We are IPA Fans and the Farmhouse IPA for Flying Dog and Baltimore Full tilt did not disappoint! Definitely recommend this place if you are in the area!
(5)AM F.
Would definitely come back here again when in Baltimore. Very good beer selection and excellent smoke burger.
(4)Brian P.
North Coast Old Rasputin - Imperial Stout. Unbelievably good. WOW. Smoke Burger with Duck Fat Fries for dinner. Awesome. Incredible beer selection for beer fanatics. Many, many on draught and tons of rare beers in bottles.
(5)Marc F.
Sticky floors, surprisingly decent food, but portions way too small. So wanted to try the beer, but was here for lunch with work colleagues and had an important meeting afterward. Beer breath would have been bad. Ate the crabcake, which was tasty. But way too small for the oversized bun. Salad good too. Alewife must have had one heck of a crowd the night before. Floors sticky and place smelled like my college fraternity house on a Sunday afternoon--carelessly cleaned by a bunch of hungover pledges who put too much bleach in the way too dirty mop water. Assuming the beer wasn't skunked and the glasses are clean, if I could have drank, the sticky floors and small portions could have been overlooked. Because I didn't have the true alewife experience with good beer, my 2 star rating might be a bit low. BUT, don't be open for lunch in a district with lots of non drinking hospital staff. Perhaps better at night as an actually bar or a place for happy hour?
(2)Modyssey G.
Not impressed. I came here after seeing "The Book of Mormon" at the Hippodrome with my parents and my boyfriend. Our waiter was nice enough, albeit a little snooty, but whatever. The food was sooooo unimpressive. I had read the Yelp reviews about Alewife before going there, and I had read about the smoke burger. Unfortunately when I actually had the opportunity to go to Alewife, I didn't feel like eating a burger so I got some forgettable fancy schmancy grilled cheese and tomato soup. What a huge mistake. There was some nasty minty crap on the grilled cheese that completely ruined it. $12 and some change for grilled cheese and mediocre tomato soup. I admit, that was mostly my poor decision making, but my father and boyfriend ordered the oysters casino, and what a pathetic sight that was! 4-5 of the most measly oysters you've ever seen, fried down to nearly nothing, with a large amount of arugula to cover up how much you're getting ripped off. $16 each and you leave still hungry? No thank you! My mom liked her caesar salad well enough, but not enough to go back. I am a burger freak, but I don't think I'll go back, not even to try the smoke burger. So disappointing.
(2)K. E.
Trying to check out local beers on my own without straying too far from my convention hotel -- this was a good find. It was too early for dinner, but I tried the chicken liver pate along with my beer selections, assisted by the friendly bartender. All good. Wish I could go back again! Thanks, Baltimore, you are treating a single lady from out of town pretty well.
(4)A. C.
(11/21/2013) We've patronized Alewife many times over the years, it was a go-to place for gatherings on the west side, convenient to the Hippodrome, UMMS, State Center. We've always planned extra time knowing that the service is slow, but now we're done for good. Went in for lunch, had orders taken pretty promptly (4 Smoke Burgers, 1 Turkey Burger). Over the course of a full hour saw 2 tables receive and eat their food (Smoke Burgers even), pay their checks and leave. No one came to update us on progress or even apologize. When finally asked, the server said that a lot of people came in all at once. Duh, it's lunch time, be prepared. We finally just left and went to Nando's Peri Peri at Baltimore and Paca Streets; quick, friendly, oh, and I finally got to eat and it was delicious.
(1)Erin H.
The duck fat fried are AMAZING along with the smoke burger that my husband ordered. I ordered the grilled cheese and I was pretty disappointed, the flavors were good but they were really stingy on the cheese so I ate all my husbands fries. = ) They have a HUGE beer selection and they even let you try a few if you are unsure of what type of beer you would like. The prices weren't bad but those fries are just beyond amazing. We will go back the next time we're in the area.
(5)Carrie O.
I think that our visit tonight to Alewife easily qualifies as the disappointment of the century. We'd bookmarked this place a long time ago, impressed by the glowing reviews and the extensive beer/ale list, the declarations of the best burgers in town, etc. So it was to our intense disillusionment that the hype turned out, indeed, to be all hype. We arrived at 7pm on a Saturday night, fully expecting to wait for a table (our reservation was for 9pm in anticipation of this), but to our surprise, we were seated right away. The decor IS impressive, I will say that - the old space was renovated nicely and it does look classy. And the service was on point - our waitress was friendly and accommodating, though not overly so. Unfortunately, that's where the praise for Alewife ends. The food was just... sigh, I can't even begin to describe how let-down we felt. LoML ordered the chile relleno plate, and to our shock, they brought out one sad-looking, medium-sized pepper on a bed of tomato sauce and corn niblets. That's IT. For sixteen dollars, you would have THOUGHT he'd at least get some rice on the side. But, nothing. Absolutely nothing. He was still hungry after eating that sad looking thing, and it's no wonder. I felt so badly that I offered to get him something else! (For what it's worth, he said that the flavor was excellent, absolutely divine - it was simply just not ENOUGH.) I ordered the "famous" smoke burger and fries platter - and let me tell you something, if THIS is considered Baltimore's "best" burger, people simply need to get out more. The chipotle sauce was the ONLY thing that set it apart from other burgers that I've had - in honesty, I told LoML that I could probably make a better burger at home, and without the steep price tag, to boot. The duck fat fries were, in a word, atrocious - neither of us liked them at all. LoML had two specialty drafts, one of which he enjoyed and the other he did not. I had a specialty cocktail, the Ginger Grant, which I thought was VERY weak - it was so watered down that I didn't even get a buzz from it, and I have alcoholic drinks maybe once or twice in a blue moon, so trust me - if I didn't get buzzed, there was little to no alcohol in it. We paid nearly 70 dollars with tip for our meal, and I consider it, unfortunately, 70 dollars wasted. To top it all off, I'm laying here feeling rather ill and I have a nasty feeling that Alewife's so-called "gourmet menu" might have a rather large reason to do with that. Needless to say, we will not be back.
(2)Bob L.
Last night I met with a group for a business meeting at Alewife and it was the best experience I have had here. What made the night? Without a doubt it was the service. Josh was amazing. Attentive, prompt, present, and, yes, he knew the hell out of the beer he was tasked with serving. One of the things I love most about Alewife is their obvious passion for beer. I wanted to give Josh a chance to show me. For my first beer I just said, "Pick one for me." Not only did he nail the first choice with a unique Belgian IPA from Stone called Cali-Belgique he even offered me up a sample of a Flemish sour (a notorious least favorite style of mine) from Allagash called Vrienden. I'm not a sour convert, but it actually wasn't bad. The hits kept coming after that with a Dogfish Head Midas Touch bookended with a Wyerbacher Simcoe IPA. Stunning brews, every one. For dinner all four of us ordered the smoke burger and, as expected, it was gut-busting brilliance. I'll keep this one short and sweet. This experience was exactly what I've been craving from Alewife and thanks to Chef Chad and Josh for making it happen. Cheers!
(4)Steve S.
For a long while this was one of the few places really close to the Hippodrome for pre-show dinners, and even though there have recently been some new options opening in the area, this is still a favorite for most. Their beer list is extensive, and always includes at least a few seasonal options, and interesting brews that are not easily found elsewhere (be sure to try their wide variety of pumpkin ales, if visiting in the fall). The menu is consistently pretty good, and mostly made up of more upscale versions of traditional tavern food. The mac & cheese, mussels, and honey-sriracha wings are always favorites. The shrimp & grits, and wild boar sliders, should probably be skipped. The restaurant is located in an old bank building, with really cool architecture and 2 story ceilings. Biggest point of advise: Make sure to make reservations if you want to dine, as the place fills up & gets crowded (almost uncomfortably so), especially on show nights! The hightop table next to the front window is easily the best seat in the house. Or ask for one of the balcony seats for the best people viewing! I have never not gotten the table of my request when reserving on "opentable.com".
(4)Heidi R.
The smoke burger and duck fat fries were maybe the best burger I've ever eaten. And the fries were fantastic!
(5)Nicole L.
I've been to Alewife a few times. Friday nights are madness, especially if there is a performance at one of the local theatres. The extensive selection of beer is fun to play with, but my favorite thing about the restaurant is the burger! So good!
(4)D Q.
Ask for your correct change. Ordered one drink at the bar, ask to pay for it, got a receipt for $7.63. I gave $10, the bartender slapped down $2 change and walked away... hate places that do this, it's incredibly insulting to your customers' money and patronage.
(3)Helen C.
My friends and I got dinner here to celebrate being done with our first exam - I think this was the perfect place for that! It was such a fun place to be, especially because Monday is trivia night. We were awful at trivia, but it was still fun to try. Everyone liked their food, and a bunch of us ordered the smoke burger. I personally wasn't a huge fan just because there was too much meat and patty was so thick, but of course this appeals to some people and it's all a matter of personal taste. Our waiter was very accommodating of us - a large group of 10 - so I really appreciated that. Overall, I would come back again, definitely for drinks.
(4)Neelam P.
Nice selection of beers from all around...happy hour until 7pm.
(4)Britt E.
Great beer selection. Cool atmosphere and vibe. Found the food a bit lacking. Fish tacos didn't have much fish, didn't include a side. Mahi Mahi, was delicious, but portions were skimpy. Only accompanied by salsa and 4 skinny pieces of asparagus. Burger was excellent. Apparently this is what most people order.
(3)Amy P.
This is a great place for a beer, everyone knows that. It's never crowded, and the hipster-looking dudes at the bar tend to be nice. I've had the burgers and they are awesome, but my favorite is the truffle mac and cheese. The guyere and truffles...with a nice IPA makes for a perfect weekend afternoon. It can get a little loud when they decide to crank up the music or the game, but that's just me being old and cantankerous. My only word of caution is to skip the yucca fries, but that may just be a personal preference. I don't like yucca. They keep their menu updated with new offerings, just like the taps. It is right across from the Hippodrome so be careful on which night you do. But do GO!
(4)Herman C.
Awesome burgers and a huge list of craft beers. Will come back! The duck fat fries were nom nom
(5)Rick L.
Wow great place and stellar beer selection. I stayed at The Kimpton Monaco so it was about a 3 block walk. Read the reviews from fellow Yelpers and decided to make the trek I had the smokehouse burger and it was perfect. Extensive draft beer selection....let the bartender know your style and they will point you in the right direction. Bonus...great tunes!
(4)Ed W.
The Smoke Burger was cooked perfectly. We had one cooked medium and one medium rare and they were executed just as they should be. For only a few dollars more than a burger at any other restaurant, here you get a far superior product. The bacon, cheese, and bun shared the same quality. Nothing was overlooked here. My only complaint was the lack of domestic beers. I don't care who you are, sometimes you just want a Bud Light.....
(4)Jessie H.
We have been here a few times now, and I have enjoyed it every time. Unfortunately, if tonight would have been my first night at the Alewife, I would never return. Everyone ordered their meals. An entree salad came out in 10 minutes for the first person. My mussels came out in about 15 minutes. The burgers, steak, & calamari came out in about 50 minutes. It wasn't even very busy. And I was not sure why everything was spaced out. My mussels were definitely lacking "muscle". They were very small & "stringy", if that makes any sense. Additionally, i was barely given any "wine sauce" with them, and some toasted pieces of white bread. I could barely get through half of them, they were that unappealing. Husband had the steak. It was probably 1/8 of an inch thick, cooked medium (why this took 50 minutes, not idea). The sweet mashed potatoes had a horrible flavor and I couldn't even enjoy the asparagus. I think he did enjoy the steak, itself, but in no means was it worth the $$. My friend got the calamari, that honestly looked like they only brought out about 1/2 of it. And yes, that was cold too (reminder 50 minutes!). To top it all off, our waiter was quite aloof. Definitely thought he was the bus boy, that had no personality and honestly could care less if we enjoyed our evening. It was a nice night out with friends & we were running late to a show so we didn't even feel like complaining. Although, I left feeling ripped off for paying $65 for a meal we didn't enjoy. At least the wine was good! The only silver lining. I am really hoping this was a one time occurrence, because I would love to return.
(1)Wes J.
This is a great place for a burger and beer. I had the Smoke Burger, which was very thick and I ordered well done. I was not disappointed. The cheese, bacon, and onions were great, although a little overshadowed by the enormous amount of beef in every bite. It was a really good burger, but if the meat were a bit more tastier, it could have been a great burger. The crowing achievement of this place was the incredible variety of beers. I am from the West Coast and so I am accustomed to a very good beer selection at almost every place I go, so I was very pleased to peruse the full menu page of beers on tap and two pages of bottled beers had top names from all over. Just to mention a few, Dogfishead from Deleware, Rogue from Oregon, and San Diego's Stone, who for my money puts out the best quality product with everything their name touches. So to see Arrogant Bastard, Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, and Old Guardian listed here, made me smile. The atmosphere was a little loud, but it seemed like a fun crowd. We were there for dinner and didn't stay to see the place get crowded, but it's not hard to imagine it to have a very lively night life. I would definitely come here agian.
(4)Dixon M.
I went to the Alewife with a friend, and we both loved it. The place was very busy, but service was still friendly, efficient and very accommodating. Both of us ordered smokeburgers, and they were fantastic. Cooked exactly to our specifications. The fried were also wonderful. I was curious about beer cocktails, so I ordered a Hop Betty. It was delicious: a citrusy, hoppy concoction. I would definitely visit the Alewife again!
(4)Liz M.
Got in here around 7:00pm before one-minute plays at EMP. We were asked if we had reservations which I still think is weird for a pub. It was slammed in there, but we inched our way to bar stools next to a couple that I'm pretty sure were doing CPR incorrectly. We got the mussels which some people have said weren't great. These were okay. Nothing remarkable, but they definitely gave us a lot to eat. I got the catfish tacos which were great. The texture from the fried sweet potatoes was needed after the fish was dressed to a soggy mess. Despite having only three tacos on the plate, I was stuffed afterwards. Obviously, people go for the beer. They had a good list of good breweries, but I just wasn't in love with which brews they chose on draft. I should've looked at the bottle list, but after a stout I moved to the mixed drinks. I missed out on the Bacon Bloody Bry(i)an, but everything else was tasty. I really liked this place. It's not in an ideal location, across from the Hippodrome, but I would swing by if I was in the area.
(4)Tim M.
Stopped in here on a Sunday afternoon before a concert at the Arena. Had the duck fat fries, and the duck confit along with a Dogfish Indian Brown. It's interesting decor - might have been a bank at one time - there is a private table in what appears to have been the vault once. I bet this is a hot spot at night. Wife had the smoked tomato soup and grilled cheese. This is NOT your average pub food - everything has a slight upscale twist. Duck fat fries come with sriracha mayo. Service was good and so was the food - duck confit is pricey $22 for a leg & thigh with 4 spears of asparagus and some risotto. A bit high if you ask me. I'd go back - but I'd rather go if they were located in Annapolis. Baltimore and this location - are a pit. I wouldn't be there after dark myself. Reported not remotely humbly this day, D. Food Snob, PHD.
(3)Rob N.
Alewife makes great use of it's dramatic bar space. Originally a bank, then insurance company, the tall ceiling and huge amounts of wall space are wisely occupied by monster menu boards, original windows, and a dramatic bar. The food and beer menus are just as dramatic. Forty draft selections, and many more in bottle. Hearty gastropub creations fill both the dinner and lunch bills of fare. Now, I didn't have the famous smoke burger, but I did have a huge serving of duck poutine (duck fat fries, duck gravy, shredded duck, and cheese curd) and s pretty respectable shrimp and grits. The poutine was rich, perfect for sharing with the table, and full of bad-for-you goodness. The shrimp and grits contained some sizeable shellfish, decent cheese grits, if a bit solid - I like my grits creamier, and this was like a heavy polenta. To finish, it was topped off with a tangy, slightly spicy, beer-based barbeque sauce. The beer list is posted on the aforementioned giant menu boards running up to the ceiling on the wall facing the bar. Draft selections change regularly, so it's never a bad idea to ask what seasonal brews are available - they might not be back for a while once they're gone. The noise level can get up there, so keep that in mind. Still, it's a good pour-house with a competent kitchen.
(4)Joe K.
Back again! And let me tell you a little about my experience. Because of the most recent Google Offers on Alewife, me and some friends secured $50 in food for $25, the only catch was the fact that it couldn't be used for lunch, or before 8pm. One per-customer"table" was allowed. Which made attempting to use this a little harder than it should've been, i even had a friend attempt to use it when he proposed, but they declined him because of the time he entered the establishment. We all sat separately at the bar, but that wasn't good enough for our waitress, as I practically had to plead my case to about using the offer separately. She was nice enough to allow the exception, so long as she got a kick back from it, though I am not a bad tipper she said," you would've paid me well anyways... ," let me feeling uncomfortable before the meal started. The tap list here is second best in the city, and has most beers on or around average prices with Max's Tap house. 60+ total taps and a full bar are still offered. I took a lot more time to choose through their menu with my extra "credit" I had, for starters I went with their Calamari. Which was prefect, and in the running for some of the best I have ever had. For my entree, Shrimp and Grits. I loved the grits, cheesy but not too cheesy with the right texture. The shrimp were huge and plentiful, but leaving the body of shrimp added a nice appearance, but wasn't too pleasant when biting into a left over hard pieces. I would've normally been fine, if there was light to tell what was what in the sauce. Overall good dish. And for dessert a lemon tart, though small it packed a ton of flavor and was light and palatable. All of this, two beers or so, and I hadn't filled my entire credit ($50), I was reminded by an exhausted waitress about how I promised to spend more than $50, some time when we first spoke. A shot of Black Label later and I was barley over $50 by $3 ; which is a great value most of the items I ordered were the most expensive meals on the menu and same with beer. Customer service was fast and good when serving, and not soo much behind the bar. The food was excellent, as always ; and the atmosphere is everything I would want in a gastropub, 3 stars.
(3)Sherris M.
Went here for an early Father's Day treat with the hubby. He read about it in the City Paper *hint, he finds most of our "spots" this way* Food great, atmosphere....LOUD...especially if it is game day (which it was on yesterday). The specialty drink I had, was the Great Gatzke was ehhhh. I wanted the Ginger Grant, but they didn't have any more basil (one of the key ingredients), the waiter said they could replace it with mint. Er-ummmm, basil v. mint. ummmmmmmmm, I'm going to go with NO!!! Never had the drink so I would at least like to taste what it's SUPPOSED to taste like before you go messing with it. The Great Gatzke was a'ight. I did order a 2nd, but that was because I had a nice "vodka" buzz from the first. Beer drinkers, they have an extensive Draft and Bottled selection, not really a beer drinker but I was impressed with all the options. Food came pretty quick. Starters were the mussels and grilled asparagus salad....both YUMMO. Entrees were Bluefish Tacos and a SmokeHouse Burger with a side of Fries, fried in Duck Fat. My 2nd experience with Duck Fat Frites, not as good as B & O Brasserie, but they were ok. After the game let out it got SUPER crowded. There was a William Donald Schaefer look alike standing in the entrance waiting for a table and then he, his head and his butt was next to my shoulder....THANKFULLY it was time to go. Would I go again, absolutely. We had a reservation and I would suggest you make one too, lest you have your butt on some poor unsuspecting diner's shoulder.
(4)Jack R.
Mussels: disappointing in the extreme. I came to Baltimore and ordered seafood; the seafood I ate would've been sub-par if I'd ordered it in Nebraska. The broth was weak , there were a share of bad mussels on the plate, and they just didn't taste that good. On the other hand, the meat of the Smoke Burger was delicious. The burger in its entirety was pretty good, but needed *something* else. I tasted the delicious meat, but tasted little else, and it wasn't such an enormous patty that it was substantial in its own right. The beer selection is a positive, but not stunning for a place that markets itself as a specialty beer place. At Alewife the meal I had just didn't feel like it justified its price.
(2)Will R.
Loved it. Great food and great beer selection. Place was very cool and servers were very cool. I wanted to go back, but there were too many options! If you like to eat and like to drink beer, go here Duck fries are always a treat
(4)Mark M.
Wow. The neighborhood was really sketchy, but this place is great. We had a great time. Had reservations, but got there a bit early and found seats at the bar. Great beer selection and cocktails for the wife. Great food and wonderful atmosphere, everyone was so nice to us. I had the smoke burger, my wife had the mussels after we split an app or two. Had planned on going to Brewers Art next, but had so much fun here, we never made it. Maybe next trip.
(4)Justin W.
First of all, their beer list is amazing. However, it comes at a cost. I found their beers cost on average $2-$5 more than some other places. Of course, they have a bigger selection including things you can't get elsewhere. Their house cocktails all sound very interesting and the sips of them that I have had were quite good. Again, they come at a cost, but not too much more than you would expect. The food was consistently good...if you can find what you want. I am not picky and am perfectly content with a hamburger. $15 for a hamburger may be a lot, but it is always good. I found that on most occasions, it was cooked more than I had asked, but I never minded since it was still good and juicy, which I care much more about than how pink it is or isn't. The fries were also consistently good The bites of the other food again has been good, but they have a small selection. It got better last time I was there, but I would hesitate to take a picky eater there unless they see the menu first. The atmosphere is first rate. I really like the style they chose and the feel of the place. I do not know if it just coincidence, but every time I have gone recently, it has been trivia night. I tend to not care and ignore it but it could get annoying for some. I do not know when they have it so check first if you care.
(4)Johanna B.
Mussels are tasty, good selection of beverages. Smoke burger and artichoke hearts were edible. Wouldn't go out of my way for the place, but i wouldn't kick and scream having to come if we were in the neighborhood.
(3)Faith A.
We ended up here post Orioles game as we were hungry and wanted something within a shorter walking distance from our hotel due to the massive heat that the area was experiencing. I found it online, it had some decent reviews, and it was close, and we were able to make a reservation, that made this seem like a simple choice for us. In retrospect, I am not happy with this as I feel like Baltimore had a lot more better choices probably for us to experience and enjoy. Great beer selection, but myself or my husband were really not intro drinking that evening. I can see why some people may like it for that. The hostess was not the most friendly of individuals at all so that started things off a little bad. The food was just "okay"... I had a salad and it really somehow did not match up with the description as it had some items on it not listed that I had to eat around. Their menu seemed a tad overpriced for a lot of the entrees too. I wish that they had some of the lunch menu choices on their dinner menu as they were more in line with what someone is looking for post game or in the heat. With all of the choices in the area, we will not be back on our next visit to the area.
(2)Korrin B.
Not likely to return. The waitress was not the friendliest person, they didn't have three of the four beers we asked for and the "vegan" black bean burger had no bun. I was not told this before ordering it, otherwise I would have just gotten a salad. Very lackluster. Cool atmosphere, though.
(2)Justin K.
My wife and I finally had a chance to get here after making several attempts and just never following through with plans. We took some out of town friends here that were staying at the Hilton. It was around 7 pm Saturday and we were waiting for our friends to come down so that we could go and I thought I should call and see what the wait is like. Upon calling the girl was very helpful and actually stated that we could get a reservation at 7:45. SWEET! We around at about 7:30 where the same girl who helped us was dealing with some rude old broad stating she needed to see the place they were going to eat at before she would eat there and that her husband is getting frustrated. I hate broads like that. I believe my wife stated, "What a pathetic excuse for a woman, hiding behind her husband like that." Ouch. The people that walked in before us were told that it was an hour wait with no reservations and then we were seated immediately. NICE; great customer service on their behalf for accommodating us like that. It was truly appreciated. The Beer Menu. One of the main reasons I wanted to come here was the Beer list, (the second was the burger and I will get to that in a minute). To me the draught list was a little lack luster. They did have 21st Amendment on tap and some Stillwater brews. But not a ton else that floated my boat personally. (Yes, they had dogfish on tap.) I was disappointed...UNTIL I turned to the Bottle list. BAM!! That was a great list of brews. I went with the 21st Amendment Brew Free IPA and a Stillwater Stateside Saison (this is an awesome farmhouse ale, one of the best out there in my opinion). Both were delicious. Out friends had a Dark and Stormy and the Sangria, both stated they were very good. The Food. This is where I personally went wrong and not the restaurant. I ordered the Cubano sandwich. I know, I didn't order the burger and it was one of the reasons were there! I wasn't sure if I could handle it because I was just getting over that awful stomach bug going around. My wife DID order the burger and offered half to me because it was huge! The Cuban was honestly not that good. In fact it wasn't really a great Cuban at all. However, the fries were delicious, especially with the chipotle aioli. Now, wife gave me part of her burger and boy did I make an awful mistake by not ordering that. What a delicious burger and it melted in your mouth. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned and the brioche bun SET IT OFF! Next to the Hamilton Tavern this is the SECOND best hamburger in Baltimore. Sorry Alewife, Hamilton's is still the best...every time I think about the Hamilton Tavern Burger it is like food porn in my mind...IT'S THE PLEATS I SWEAR!! Moving on... Additionally I loved the ambiance of this place; low key, dimly lit, chill crowd, big open area with high ceilings and great background music playing. The high ceilings help control the noise level I believe. If you get a chance, definitely check out the vault which is right by the restrooms, it's pretty cool...this was an old bank after all. Here are a couple pointers...yes this place gets packed so make a reservation, otherwise you will have to wait for a table. If you didn't the bar is open and serves the full menu. Check out the bottle lists, there are a lot of rare beers in there and it is a solid list. Get the F-ing hamburger; you will be happy that you did. Overall, I loved this place. I gave it 4 stars because of the Cuban sandwich not being up to par with the rest of the food. The service was outstanding and so was the beer list. I will definitely be back to get that burger again because I am still cursing myself for not getting it while I was there. Stupid ME!!
(4)Jen W.
I love the building and the space! I love that they re-purposed the building to be used as a restaurant. High ceilings, stained glass windows, dark wood and influences of neo-classical elements. You won't be able to miss the large glass window (former entrance) that marks the building's facade. That very same window became our seating location. it is the brightest spot in the restaurant and a great perch for people watching (outside and inside). Our lunch consisted of the lunch menu items including the creamy tomato soup served with a grilled cheese made with brioche. The soup was served in its own teapot and dispensed in a soup bowl at the table. Very nice touch! We both enjoyed the duck fat fries which were not really crisp, thin potato fries fried in duck fat and then dusted with sea salt and herbs. They were nice and not very greasy, it almost tasted healthy. If you order the fries separately, they come out in this huge paper cone. Plenty to share! We also ordered the shrimp po boy. It consisted of medium-sized shrimp breaded and fried then sandwiched between a roll and smeared with a spicy remoulade and shredded lettuce. Our lunch was tasty, comfort, pub food. The service was efficient and pleasant. This looks like a great place for drinks (there is a huge beer selection on tap-look at the huge chalkboard) and dinner, pre- and post-theater. I'd like to return for drinks and try a few more things off the menu which looked interesting.
(4)Vicky D.
The smoke burger is the single most delicious burger you could ever order in Baltimore. Sure, it's $15 and takes about half an hour but it is amazing and comes with duck fat fries (which are like $8 if you order them on their own anyway). The patty is always cooked to perfection, and the burger comes standard with cheese and bacon. I have tried a few other things there and they were all pretty good, but the burger is definitely the star of the show. They have a great selection of beers, too. They can be pricey, but they can also be up to 13% alcohol (that's the highest I've seen, at least).
(5)Nicole S.
I would agree with some of the other reviews- the location is ghetto across the street from the Hippodrome. I have eaten here twice and had a good experience both times. The duck fat fries and the fried artichokes were delicous. My boyfriend really likes the burgers. The wings are not spciy at all- so I wasn't a huge fan- but if spicy isn't your thing then you would probably like them. The crab cakes were also really good served with a fried green tomato. Tavern like atmosphere in an old building with historic touches. The service is about what you would expect at a place like this. They brought you what you needed in a fairly timely manner, nothing more nothing less. I would recommend this place for a casual dining experience.
(3)Thomas J.
Good food and a great selection of draft beer.
(5)James P.
Excellent collection drafts and bottles, plus the food is fantastic! The waitstaff was very helpful and knowledgeable on all the selections.
(5)Dominique F.
Came here with a few coworkers and really enjoyed the plalce. The menu offers a variety of food including a ton of burgers, a salmon sandwich, mussels etc. Plus, they have a different menu for after 10PM. What makes this place special though is the variety of beer options they have that change regularly; would definitely be back!
(4)J. M.
It seemed more like a bar that gave birth to a restaurant than the other way round. Once on trivia night it made for a fairly enjoyable experience but that was just drinks. The overly excitable dorky d00d who seemed to be in charge of it, provoked ambivalent feelings over his seemingly rare but frantic experience of leadership. On my second and what is likely to be my last trip, the food failed to live up the threat of quality that the reviews seem to communicate and was borderline edible. A botched burger for me, and a forgettable sandwich for my friend left us thinking that perhaps it was best to avoid lingering over half-eaten plates. Soft music masked the silence, light was bursting through the glass doors/windows and left the empty furniture bathing in complete vacancy. It brought a transient wistfulness to the whole affair. The incomplete conversation. The abandoned food. And the abrupt departure left the bar empty once again with ghosts and staff peopling its booming halls.
(4)Nate M.
Not only does Alewife have a great beer selection, but they also have some delicious food. They have a lot of beers (just like Max's) but their beer collection seems to vary less over time. Not a bad thing- they still have a huge number of choices available. The food is delicious, and you can't go wrong with anything you order (even if it might cost a bit more than you would expect). Unfortunately there isn't much else near Alewife- but that shouldn't stop you from going! You're fine walking around at night, just don't wander too far in certain directions. Also, be careful not to try to walk up the center steps to enter the building- its a trick and the real entrance is on the right side at ground level.
(4)Stephanie M.
Alewife is a great little spot near the Hippodrome and it stays open late for the night owls like me. I've walked past this place so many times thinking it was just a pub, but the food here is pretty good. I have ordered their black bean burger and veggie wrap and both are really good. My friend loves the duck fat fries. Their draught beers are pretty yummy. My waitress suggested one for me (cherry ale or something) and although I can't remember the name of it, it was delicious!
(4)Aaron W.
Great beer choices and outstanding smoke burger! The atmosphere is great and service is generally very good. The smoke burger is outstanding. They also have flight options with their beers which is very nice. Also, the smoke burger is outstanding.
(4)Chris N.
Smoke burger and a Live Free IPA. FOODGASM. A must stop In Baltimore after an O's game.
(5)Robin K.
Originally gave this place a 1-star review due to poor staff. I thought I 'd give them another chance since the burger was so good. To my surprise, the new waitress there was more bubbly and friendly. Kudos to management making the necessary changes. My last visit was definitely a 4-star experience at minimum. Averaging the two scores, I'll leave it as a 3 for now.
(3)Pascal P.
I tried Alewife out after they had coupon on Google deals. The food here is tasty but not really special enough to warrant the high prices. Like most people I gave their smoke burger with duck fat fries a try and it was quite good. The meat was flavorful (although not that juicy for a medium-rare burger) and the bun it came on was significantly better than average. The fries weren't very crisp though, and while they were very tasty when hot they were very greasy and became unappealing after just a few minutes of cooling down. This was a good meal, but $15 is quite a bit for a burger and in this case I don't think it was worth it. If you're looking for a bar with a lot of good beer on tap then Alewife is certainly worth visiting. Prices were a little high for Baltimore but they had a selection of drafts that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Service was prompt and friendly, and the interior of the building is cool looking. If the food were a bit cheaper I'd give Alewife four stars, but right now there's other brew pub food to be found for much lower prices.
(3)Corey M.
Can I get a witness! Church! A church indeed; Alewife is a beautifully renovated house of god. And if the man upstairs wanted to have anything, it's a delicious gastropub for all your gluttonous and sinful needs. A long and colorful selection of beers can been seen artfully displayed on a chalkboard hanging up high on the wall. No happy hour, but more than reasonably priced booze. Loads of great options for food. Somethings they were out of or weren't serving due to the quality of the ingredients. I appreciate that. It's nice to know the chefs/bartenders are looking out for you! Great and super personable server. Perfect post inner harbor experience. Already recommended to friends. And what's the best part? You're can do as the bawldymoreans do and mebbe 'lax by the wooder ron th' in'r habah!
(4)J K.
Went for lunch on Sunday March 2 before our 1pm show at the hippodrome. Seated at 11:35 - fairly empty. Finally ordered our food from the inattentive waitress at 11:50. It was approaching 12:30 and we were getting nervous about our food. Others seated after us had ordered and finished eating. Asked waitress about it at 12:30, and she said she would check on it. Said that they were getting slammed - yes it got busy after we ordered our food. We wanted to meet the manager and we were directed to talk with the bartender who really didn't care one bit. "I'll check on the food," he said while not making eye contact and not doing anything about it. Food finally showed up at 12:45 which we wolfed down and paid and left. Staff were rude. Never offered to fix the situation. Never offered an explanation. So we were there for over an hour before we got our food. And almost late to the show. Majorly disappointing. The worst part is that the bartender and waitress didn't give one flying eff.
(2)Jeremy M.
Smoke Burger. The burger was even better than expected, the beef is great, the temprature was slightly below my medium order, but that's the preferred miss, it was delicious. The smoky bacon, awesome. The cheese, drool inducing. Really, Really, great. Top 5 burger....ever. Duck fat fries...yes. Price for all that goodness $15, i think it's UNDERpriced! Nice beer selction, cool place, neighborhood is a bit "transitional" Service was less than world class which is why I couldn't give it 5 stars, but it's legit.
(4)Maura g.
We made a reservation at 8pm Saturday, when we arrived we were greeted by a friendly hostess who was aware of the reservation and told us we had the "best seat in the house". She guided us to the staircase where we were stopped by a very nasty waitress who was extremely rude to the hostess and didn't want us to sit in her section because she didn't want any more tables. The hostess guided us back down the stairs and our "best seat in the house" turned into a tiny table on a shared bench right by the front door and cold air. Although the location was now pretty much the worst in the house, we may have been better off. Our waiter was very pleasant and knowledgeable about the on tap beers and was even able to find one I liked, someone that usually would avoid beer. We ordered the braised pork and the airliner chicken for our meals, but we're not impressed, neither were very good or even butchered correctly, however everyone around us that had bar food loved it and it all looked and smelled amazing. I will probably try the place again, but stick to the bar menu and avoid the nasty waitress who walked around scoffing at people the entire time.
(3)Dan A.
Decided to come here for lunch the other day as I really wanted a beer (yeah, it's been that kind of a week haha). Heard good things about this place but never had the chance to check it out... Anyways, Alewife is located in the same building Lucy's Pub used to be in.... this is a good thing because the building is absolutely beautiful! I ordered the Smoke burger (medium done) there with duck fat fries ($3 extra) and a Dogfish Head My Antonia. For some reason the menu states that the smoke burger may take extra time to make... Not sure exactly why that is but just thought I'd throw it out there... Nevertheless, the food came out in a reasonable amount of time (15-20min). The portions looked small initially but it's actually quite filling. The burger came closer to medium-well than medium (there was no pink at all in the meat) but it was still very moist. A good amount of bacon was stacked on the inside and there was a slightly spicy aioli n the burger as well. Would have preferred a tad bit more of the aioli though as the flavor wasn't readily noticeable. Overall, it was a pretty solid burger, though it wasn't particularly amazing in my opinion. The duck fat fries were okay. They were a little bit on the saltier side of things and were a little thicker cut. I'd have preferred the thinner, crunchier duck fat fries from B&O Brasserie or Brewer's Art though. The beer list there was pretty substantial. Not as much as Max's in Fells Point but it was still a very solid list with many great craft options. The DFH My Antonia was a pretty solid beer to pair with the duck fat fries by the way. Unfortunately, the only problem here is that the food seemed a little overpriced here. My burger, duck fat fries, and beer lunch turned out to be $25 (NOT including tip)! Now, I don't mind paying a lot of money for food if the quality is good... And dont get me wrong, Alewife has good food.... But I didn't feel that Alewife's food deserved to command such a high price...especially considering you could get the all-you-can-eat steak lunch at Fogo De Chao for a few bucks more. My beer craving may have been satisfied....but I also left somewhat disappointed. 3.5 stars rounded down to a 3.
(3)David Z.
Had a huge selection of draft and bottled beers to choose from. They let you sample the draft beers before choosing which made selecting easier. Ordered the smoke burger with duck fries and enjoyed every bite of it. Also, they played very chill music such as Sublime, RHCP, etc and had cool art displayed throughout the place.
(5)Jack Straw S.
I was working at the convention center and was looking to escape and found myself walking towards the Hippodrome and there is the Alewife. Its a stinky alehouse that had a good beer selection but I was there to eat. I had the Smoke Burger with Duck Fat Fries. The Burger was awesome cooked to medium rare perfection, super juicy and great flavor in the meat and the bacon and cheese made it mouthwatering.....and it was huge. The duck fat fries sucked !!! They were cold and stale. I ate at the bar and it was not that busy and the bartender did not check on me once. I had to ask for my drink to be refilled(diet coke) twice. Overall I would go back for the burger sans the duck crap fries and certainly not for the service.
(3)Kate F.
Incredible beer selection. We had the thai peanut wings to start, and the sauce that comes with them is just delicious. My fiance had the short rib, which melted in my mouth when I stole a bite, and I had the crab cake, which was paired well with a light salad. We also shared an order of the duck fat fries, and they were absolutely phenomenal. I can't say enough about the beer selection here. The bottle list is extensive and includes some extremely hard-to-find imports and limited releases. Drafts were also impressive, with a great mix of styles and flavor profiles. The only reason I'm giving this bar a 4-star review is the bar service. I waited at the bar for 10 minutes before I was asked if I'd like a drink, and it took an additional 10 minutes to get someone's attention to close us out. Not impressed.
(4)Nancy K.
This place has horrible food. Three of us each ordered the smoke burger with duck fat fries, and all three of us were greatly disappointed. We all ordered the burgers to be cooked medium but they ranged from well done, to burnt, to charred. The fries were cold and dry, with hardly any duck fat flavor. To add insult to injury, my friend ordered a side of chipotle aioli (for 50 cents extra), and it basically tasted like nothing but mayo. My friend (who used to be a regular) suggested that they must have changed chefs. The one saving grace was that the bartender confirmed our suspicions and admitted that there was a new cook. He then recommended that we come back again (but only AFTER 4 pm). So if I ever do go back, I will definitely take that advice... but... as Yelp puts it: "Eek! Methinks not." NOM tip: Make sure you go when the evening cook is there... AFTER 4 pm!!
(1)Katherine S.
We came in here for brunch this past weekend. There was noone else there so we had the place to ourselves. That said, we waited what seemed like an odd amount of time for our food. Maybe ours was the first order of the day, but we waited 40 minutes or so for our burgers. I had the smoke burger, which was great, but I don't know that it was a $15 burger. I also wasn't that impressed with how small the brunch menu was. All in all, this place was pretty unobjectionable, but I think the food is pretty overpriced, which would stop me coming back.
(4)Emily L.
Alewife had SO much going for it when it opened. Gorgeously rehabbed interior. Hugely adventurous beer list. Inventive menu. Unfortunately, poor management and service have spoiled it for us (and those we know) a number of times, but still, the food and atmosphere make it worth visiting on "off hours" when it's not obscenely crowded. Their beer list is justly revered all over the city: 40 constantly-changing taps of extremely diverse varieties. Regardless of your tastes, and even if you think you don't like beer, you WILL find something you love here. If you are pretty open-minded and love beer, as I do, you will feel more than a little anxiety about trying to make a decision. We've never had a bad meal there, either. The burger, for me, is just okay, overwhelmed by all the toppings, and it's never cooked exactly the way we order it (sometimes too rare, sometimes overdone.) Their duck-fat fries are amazing, and get the fennel fries if they're in season. I almost always talk someone into splitting an Alewife salad with me for a first course: with chicken it could be a meal, but even without, the combination of nuts, cheese and fruit atop lightly-dressed greens is a perfect starter before a heavy entree. Calamari is great. Crab cakes are a little too gourmet for me; I prefer the old-fashioned variety with Old Bay and lots of fresh meat. Two entrees deserve their own paragraph: first, the Shrimp Po-Boy, which is prepared exactly the way they make them at the best Cajun dives in Louisiana. The bread is fluffy-chewy, and the remoulade spicy and creamy -- with shredded lettuce and lightly-battered crispy shrimp, it's an amazing meal. Second, the Kobe beef hot dog, smothered in buffalo chili and gouda cheese and served on a pretzel roll. I haven't been here for dinner in quite awhile, but I remember the Airliner Chicken, though it seemed steep, was worth every penny; the fish tacos were also delicious. The management and service problems? In short, they keep firing their best employees, from bar to kitchen. I don't get it, but the people I know who still work there tell me there's a lot of drama behind the scenes, from factions to personal grudges. The servers who are left are pretty inattentive; some don't know anything about beer (at a craft pub?!) and they're all pretty generous with eyerolls if you don't order enough food, ask for a substitution or want to change tables. I wish I could just stop going once and for all, but the food and beer are just too good! So: if you enter with low expectations on the service end, and don't mind a loud, crowded atmosphere, you could really enjoy yourself. Here's hoping they tap into their full potential sometime soon!
(3)Guinevere N.
The interior is beautiful, the staff are kind and the food is delicious. Pricey, but fair given the quality and the variety. The beer list is high caliber if a bit lacking.
(4)Kyla C.
Never been to Baltimore before so my only restaurant experience there was a good one. This place has a pretty cool vibe but the surrounding area is kind of dead, besides the theatre across the street. I ordered the burger with duck fat fries and it was delicious! The patty was substantial and it was super filling. The fries were awesome. The beer list was awesome as well. I tried three different drafts and there were all tasty. I would come back for the beer alone.
(4)Rachel C.
The smoke burger really was amazing. I would come here again for the burger alone and for the vast beer selection, all reasonably priced. The mussels are okay, a little pricey for what they are, though they do come with the duck fat fries. A little red flag here: we assumed the mussels were happy hour price, as were our beers (referencing an online happy hour menu Alewife advertises). This was not the case. Only Heavy Seas products were, though our bartender failed to tell us this until we asked. Other than this little glitch, the service was excellent! Wonderful bartenders and super attentive. Can't speak on behalf of the wait staff but sitting at the bar and sampling beers is most likely the better option regardless.
(3)Julie H.
I had the cider and the messels both were quite tasty
(4)Beau C.
Great beer selection and a really cool building. Just beware: our lunch took forever! We were at a conference downtown and had an hour break. We did not make it. Really enjoyed the food: I had fish tacos which were yummy--good mix of flavors and textures. I was jealous though of the folks at the table who got burgers...they looked amazing. If you have time to kill, drop in and eat.
(4)Kyle C.
My experience at Alewife was amazing. I went with my girlfriend and several of her friends. A few of us got there before the rest of the group and we were greeted outside by the hostess, she seemed to be on her smoke break but was incredibly hospitable and stopped to take us inside and had us quickly seated before the time our reservation for 8:15pm was set for (mind you the reservation was for 11 people). At most places I would've expected the employee to just pass us off to someone inside but I was pleasantly surprised she sat us herself...definite plus. The atmosphere inside was really relaxed and the waitress we had was fantastic. She gave us a good rundown on a few beers that were suggested as well as some food choices. I've seen other reviews on here complaining about the timing of food/drinks coming out and we didn't have anything like that during our time here. Like I said before, the waitress was serving 11 people and the drinks came out incredibly fast as did the food. She stopped by frequently enough to make sure we were always well taken care of and it was much appreciated by all of us. Now comes the food, it was absolutely as delicious as advertised. I had the smoke burger that came with a side of duck fries. It was everything I could have imagined and more. Everything was perfectly cooked and put together, and several of the people at the table who ordered the same were raving about it. If you want a relaxed, laid back lunch or dinner with great service, nice atmosphere and everything in between, come to Alewife.
(5)Ben B.
Been here a few times for casual drinks. Great beer selection. Ate here for the first time today and it was underwhelming. I have heard great things about the burgers but I decided to go with The Bucket. Judging by the name, I though the portion of potatoes, corn, chorizo, shrimp and mussels would have left me stuffed, but I found my stomach still growling after devouring the $20+ entrée. The whole dish maybe had 2 pieces of chorizo in total. Service was also mediocre. Had to raise my hand - felt like a grade schooler - to get the waiters attention for another menu, drink order, water refill, and the check.
(3)Jan T.
Looking for an option for a good, somewhat reasonable priced dinner prior to the Anthony Bourdain event at the Hippodrome, the benevolent algorithm of Yelp pointed me toward this "upscale dining" tavern located right across the street from the show. Seeing the good reviews, and the very nice menu, I made reservations for 6:15, hoping to have a relaxed dinner prior to the 8pm start of the show. Good thing I did. We arrived at 6 pm, a bit early, but were seated immediately. The menu was placed in front of us, and someone brought us water. 10 minutes later we could finally order our drinks, when the waiter came around, took the drinks order, then walked away, not to be seen again for another 10 minutes. At that point came the first odd question of the night, to two people at a table with open menus "Oh, you want to order food too?". Why yes, yes, that is the intention. He takes our order of two smoke burgers and a starter of wild boar meatballs, then leaves. It is now 6:20. 6:40. Drinks arrive, the older couple at the table two down from us (who were there before us) finally gets to order their dinner, after the man stood up and has his first of 3 chats with the manager about the service. The server apologizes because "the bar is so busy tonight, it's unusual". Well, it is a theatre night, and your restaurant does bill itself as a "theatre restaurant" on the website, so there is that. 7:15. Our appetizers finally make it out. It's 4 meatballs, decent size, with some chili-limi sauced carrots and daikon. Tasty, but luke-warm due to sitting on the hot plate until they had all the orders together for the various (now about 6) semi-annoyed parties sitting in the smaller dining room and all those sitting in the main dining area. 7:30 - half an hour to show time. I intended to be on my way to the show now, so I pull the server over and rather forcefully tell him that we need our dinner soon since we have show tickets. Everyone else does the same. 7:35. Dinner is delivered to the table next to us, which walked in at 7:10, so I am about to go full Gordon Ramsey. My girlfriend smiles, and I keep just calm enough to spare the server and manager some choice words. 7:40. Dinner finally arrives. The smoke burger is delicious and comes with duckfat fries, which are also good. I ask for the check while we are eating, which pisses me off, but pales compared to the fact that we are now forced to have a good $15 burger and fries in the same time frame that one would take to have a $1 burger from a fast food joint. The server tries to redeem himself by offering us a free round of drinks, for which it is now much too late. 7:50. We have paid (he left the first round of drinks on the check but I did not have time to complain about that), we are leaving this restaurant. Fortunately half the remaining audience made the same choice, so Bourdain starts 10 minutes late. In summation, this is a Fells Point bar in a non-Fells Point setting with decent food but service that goes beyond utterly incompetent, especially when they get busy. 2 stars are given for food, .1 stars for the server's ironic attempt to redeem himself and his establishment. I will not be returning, nor ever recommend this restaurant to others.
(2)Ashley A.
Worst service I've ever had. The wench bartender was more concerned about drinking with her friends then servicing customers.
(1)Geoffrey C.
Alewife, oh how I stumbled upon thee. I was hungry after a concert at the arena and were looking for options to eat. Place was recommended on Yelp and I decided to go on a whim. Wasn't feeling American gastropub food, but really had no choice. Glad I went! In short, the smoke burger is succulent; the best burger I've ever had. Words can not describe how juicy and tasty it was. If you can imagine having sex with a burger, that was what I experienced. The melange of meat and soft cheeses makes for a delectable affair. I usually like my burgers pink on the inside and it was just right at medium. The duck fat fries, albeit unhealthy, were equally tasty. The soup was good as was their take on a chopped salad. Drink selection was top notch, but I couldn't care less. Service was great too. The smoke burger is the main event here fellas. Blended choice meat with gruyere and smoked gouda topped with a garlic aioli brioche bun!
(5)John J.
Great beer selection..unfortunately I ordered the moules frites. My short lived experience with this order, out of the first 5 mussels 2 weren't even de-bearded, and the other 3 were cooked even though they were obviously dead. The bar staff wasn't concerned about this information , they simply told me no one else complained. Until they're sick tonight!
(2)Danielle W.
This is our default post-play at Hippodrome stop. The decoration is artsy-contemporary-cool. I especially love the large paintings on the walls. Awesome beer selection - I think like 40 on tap and the food we've had has all been pretty impressive. I'm especially partial to the duck fat fries and the caprese salad starters. We'll be back and continue working our way though the menu!
(4)Jesus O.
The "Smoke Burger" is absolutely delicious. The atmosphere is a bit Hipster which I don't particularly enjoy. Beer selection is pretty decent.
(4)Tom N.
Alewife is a solid 4-stars for me. While they do offer a terrific and large craft beer list along with some pretty eclectic and tasty food dishes, the setting is not the coolest and the prices are usually pretty high. Overall, I come back here frequently (I live practically next door) but it's not one of my first choices.
(4)Jennifer S.
Their selection of beer on tap is amazing. I ordered the black bean burger. It seemed like they made it fresh for me. Their duck fries are so good that even vegetarians will want to eat them.
(5)Travis P.
We went here with a group of 8 people for lunch before and O's game. Let me start by saying that their smoke burger was one of the best burgers I have ever had! They also have a good craft beer selection. However, they don't have a light beer option and when asked about it our server was a little pretentious with her response. For some people, a light beer option is a necessity, so in my opinion, all bars and restaurants that serve beer should have at least one light beer option. Service was also a little slow, especially considering we were the first table to be seated that day, maybe they weren't ramped up yet.
(3)christine j.
Definitely my go-to spot in downtown Baltimore. Their duck fat fries, thai wings, Smoke burger, huge beer selection keeps me coming back.
(4)Ethan L.
Located not too far from the Lexington Market subway station Alewife is a place easy to miss. Entering though you are in a giant large ceiling building that has been redecorated and screaming new gentrified fashion, while still remaining old world charm. The patronage is diverse, and the place was very busy for a Tuesday night when I visited. Aside from one foul mouth racist drunk in the corner trying to stir things up (who didn't last long), everything here is quite comfortable and pleasant. The building and crowd reminds me a lot of the nice places I frequent to drink in DC, although the clientel in Baltimore is classic locals who are different from their nearby DC counterparts. Service is ok, some minor attitude but nothing you can't really fault. Beer selection here is a step up and also contains lots of good glassware to go with it. Didn't get to try all the food, but the fries in duck fat never fail, and the burger is rich if perhaps a little too rare but no major complaints. I really like the atmosphere of this place the most, it really feels and gives me an idea of what the residents of Baltimore look like and what their city has to offer, and the building is real nice inside. I will always keep this place on my radar when visiting Charm City.
(4)Jon W.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect, though I have to say it was the menu that won me over. So my wife and I went there with high expectations, based on both the menu and the number of stars in it's yelp rating. What we got was a very uneven experience. I read several reviews praising the Smoke Burger, so I ordered that. On the whole I wasn't disappointed, though the caramelized cipollini onion wasn't really caramelized, though rather delicious all the same. The burger came as requested, Medium Well, and I have to commend them for it is one of the best burgers I've ever enjoyed. The applewood smoked bacon, however was exceedingly undercooked and was therefore removed from my plate as i find very undercooked bacon, a very unpleasant experience. The calamari, though overcooked, was tasty and enjoyable. when i first looked at it i was afraid that it was going to be excessively battered but the batter was actually pleasant and not overbearing. The wait staff is pleasant and friendly. The Mac and Cheese, frankly was a bit of a disappointment. It's basically a clean dish smothered in La Tourangelle Infused White Truffle Oil. Which is remarkably easy to overuse in any dish. It had lots of promise but simply did not deliver. Neither was my wife was not impressed with the blue catfish tacos, she found them a bit "insipid". Both of us thoroughly enjoyed the burger with duck fat fried potatoes and we would both return for the burger and the calamari. Provided that the bacon is properly cooked next time. 3 stars - only for the Smoke burger, which was the highlight of the meal.
(3)Gene L.
This gets a 4 only because I haven't tried everything yet. We came here as a last stop for the night, so I haven't had the chance, or fortune, of trying the smoke burger. All the food we had from soups to fries were delicious. The service was great and good drink selection.
(4)Jenn H.
So. This place is awesome! The service is on point. Every time I have been, the service is always über friendly, prompt, and attentive. The atmosphere: very sports bar scene but the most bestest part about this bar is the fact that they do not serve you up what I would consider, your typically prepared bar food. It has a gourmet flair and it is YUMMY! I mean the burger (with munster cheese, I think) was delish, the duck fat French fries were/always are so yummy :) Mmmm! Every time I go I HAVE to have them. Even my mom loves them and she doesn't even really do fries. But she eats mine every time :) The calamari was really good too. I got the salad which was prepared well. Very tasty. No complaints. And the crab cakes were good! Like really good! The mixed drinks were good too. They make a mean dirty martini. And the assortment of beers is just too much....in a good way of course. They have this huge chalk board on the wall with all the beers they have during that season. Bomb! And they are on draft! Bomb! Gotta love that. Outside of that, they have a pretty sweet beer menu that is just to die for. If you appreciate beer, you'll love this place. If you appreciate food, see comment above :) And if you love a live atmosphere for young professionals and sports fans alike, refer to above comment. I am a return customer and I recommend this place to friends :)
(5)Justin S.
Great beer selection, must try the Kobe Hotdog on the pretzel roll. Amazing!
(4)Ayon J. R.
Respectable collection of draught beer and decent food are the positives. Just don't go during dinner rush....some of he staff shows serious attitude when the place is busy.
(3)Tim H.
Went last night with my wife and another couple before West Side Story at the Hippodrome. My wife made reservations last week and she received a very friendly call today reminding her of our reservation. We got there on time, but our friends were late and we couldn't be seated until our entire party was present. Seemed reasonable to me, although I was concerned because the restaurant was fairly crowded. But as soon as our friends appeared, we were wisked to our table. Some of less-than-favorable reviews I have read about the Alewife have to do with the service. This just goes to prove that the majority of one's experience stems from your interaction with the server. In this area, we lucked out. Susannah (who was sporting the sexy-librarian look yet never committed to the pull-out-the-hairpin-and-shake-out-the-hair-in-Âslow-motion thing) was spot-on. Appeared exactly when we needed her, didn't hover, was completely frank about what was good and what would be less than stellar, And we failed to trip her up when we quizzed her on the ridiculously huge beer selection...and we tried. Our food came exactly when it should have and we had plenty of time to get to the show. The food is interesting. Overall, the menu is fairly small, maybe a tad restrictive, but had enough of a selection to appeal to most any taste. We started with the meat and cheese platter. Chorizo, smoked salmon, Gruyere cheese, herbed goat cheese, tiny pickles, and whole grain mustard made for a great selection, but it was barely large enough for two, let alone four, people. And at $16, it was not a value. Between the four of us, we had the BBQ shrimp and grits, the Cubano, and Airliner chicken. Overall, very good. Grits were cheesy and creamy and the shrimp was tender and cooked just right. They were a bit over-sauced though. Could have been a little more delicate with the flavors and been more intriguing. But the rest of my party were very pleased with their entrees, although the portions were fairly small. Especially for the price. Whether or not we caught them on a good night, we were very pleased with the service and satisfied with the food. It was just a tad pricer than it should have been, especially when considering that the portions were small. But, overall, a good place to go before the show.
(3)Brian A.
Great food, Great beer, Great staff and Great Atmosphere. The beer here is all top notch and the staff can give you a great education on each beverage and can help you find a beer that best suits you. The food is absolutely delicious and rivals one of my Favorite gastro-pubs in Baltimore, Hamilton Tavern. This a a beautiful space and enormous. Take the time to walk around and explore each floor while your venture through the extensive beer list. Be advised this is a little pricey for a gastro-pub but still reasonable. Also there are some TVs but still not a great place to watch a game.
(4)Joe S.
What a great place to have a great beer and some really tasty food. Everyone writes about Alewife's smoke burger, but I went another route and had their airliner chicken dish...wow, what an explosion of flavor that left me wanting to order a second one. The service was also great, I had a dark, curly haired, beer professor as a waitress, I mean she really knew what she was talking about. Thank you for a great time.
(5)Micah J.
Found this place randomly while searching YELP!! I loved the beer selection however, no Dogfish Head?? They have Dogfish Head 60 Min beer battered fish and chips but no actualy Dogfish Brews? (thats the reason for 4 stars and not five) For a place with such a great selection one has to wonder what is up with not having and DFH on tap or bottle. The building is really cool, its historic and there is some really great artwork on the walls. It is hipster for sure though. Hipster type indie music playing with a hipster crowd. I didnt mind though and everyone there was awsome and the staff was welcoming as can be! Very attentive making sure our beers were never empty. The food was great. I started with the buffalo chicken soup that was nice and spicey. I like spicey foods and my opinion of spicey is usually burning hot for others. So this was a moderate burn and held good flavor. I wish there was more chicken in it though. But its good and I would suggest it if you like hot/spicey food. The smoke burger got rave reviews on here and guess what, here is another one! This is one of the best I have ever had. The caramelized onions, the cheese, the bun the meat, everything about this badboy was just amazing. The duck fat fries with sea salt are a great side for this burger too. My wife had the kobe beef hotdog served on a pretzel hot dog roll with black bean chili and gouda cheese on it. It was amazing (obviously I took a bite or two) it did not even taste like a regular hot dog! Had a certian sweet flavor to it. Overall, make sure to check out Alewife. Great food, beers, staff, atmosphere and overall a great experience. We will be back next time we are down for a game! ****UPDATE!!!**** After writing this review I was personally contacted by the Executive Chef who assured me the reason for the lack of DogFish Head was due to a distribution problem and offered to buy me a DFH the next time I am in. Wow, what a class act. I have never had anyone treat a out of town customer in such a welcoming and honest way. I cannot wait to go back to Alewife now!!!!
(5)S W.
Dropped in for lunch, it's a quite place at lunchtime. It also has a limited lunch menu. But, not to be disappointed, the burger is top notch. One of the best I've ever had. The burger is served with Duck fat french fries, fantastic. Service was great. Prices great also.
(4)Ashley L.
I've been to Alewife several times as a late-night-dinner-but-mostly-drinks type of situation and really enjoyed it each time. Other people have mentioned that the food is a bit more expensive than you would expect, but I don't think it's unreasonable. The beer selection is amazing and they have an amazing fall-themed apple cider whiskey combo that I'm obsessed with. I like meeting friends from out of town for drinks there because it's like a polished version of Baltimore grit -- a fascinating combination.
(4)Meghann R.
We stopped in Sunday afternoon after we walked over to Lexington Market, only to discover the LM is closed on Sundays. It was mid-afternoon when we were there, so pretty quiet, but I imagine it can be pretty lively at night. There is also a theater across the street, so if you're going to see a show this would be a good casual option. The full beer menu is not available for lunch, but there are still plenty of options. We split a sandwich and a shrimp appetizer. The appetizer was fabulous, it was like dim sum meets bar food!
(4)Alex P.
Terrible. They broke my ID. Bad beer for 5 bucks
(1)Michael H.
Great food and stellar service = happy customer. Call it 3.5 stars with a leaner toward 4. Wednesday night visit with wife and daughter, during happy hour, but didn't sit at the bar. Happy hour looked like it had some decent deals to it. This is definitely a beer driven establishment, so take this comment with a grain of salt, or barley: the wine list is amazingly terse. Considering the level of cuisine available, I think it would be wise to expand the list. 2 pinot noirs, 1 zin, 1 cab, 1 Aussie syrah, and 1 I can't recall right now; plus the whites I didn't even look at. All available by the glass and fairly priced. But again, extremely limited. We were promptly seated and the place was 1/3 full at the time (6). By 6:30, the joint was packed. There were two shows nearby (Hippodrome is right across the street, and First Mariner was right down the block) so maybe that's why. Server was prompt and nicely talkative. I wouldn't exactly call it kid friendly, as there is no children's food section on the menu, but the server worked with us to get us through. Our daughter really wanted a burger, and the only one they have is the $15 Smoke burger. While it is well worth the price of admission (both my wife and I got it and loved it) it's way too much for a 3.5 year old. So, we started with the truffle mac-n-cheese, which, to be called "truffle" needs more than 3 tiny limp truffle slices on it. Still tasty, but a little steep at $11. She consumed a lot of that, plus a few pieces of my wife's massive burger. My medium-rare was closer to rare, but still tasty. Could have used another minute on the grill. Wife's medium is what I consider medium rare. YMMV. Duck fat fries were tasty but nothing to droll over. Server kindly hooked up our daughter with a small side of fries, too. Also on the kid-friendly bit, another two couples came in with extremely loud kids and no one seemed to mind; we were seated in the back room which was quieter (as were they; good move!) than the main dining room. There's also an upstairs. Ultimately I'm pleased and will return. I miss Maggie Moore's and the Killer Burger, but Alewife is an able replacement.
(4)S W.
My friends and I dined there this evening and I was VERY disappointed with our server. She got my order ALL wrong was not the least bit apologetic and she was rude about it. I sent the order back and she never asked if she could get me anything else then when the bill came she only deducted 1/2 the meal off?! I ate the fries but really you screw up my order then you charge me for the fries I did eat? Asked for the manger but apparently he/she was to busy to come to table. #epicfail
(1)A P.
Area's ghetto as hell, but beer, burgers, duck fat fries and buffalo chicken soup are great! Close to Camden Yards.
(5)James F.
Great on all accounts. Atmosphere was interesting. Food and drink selection was amazing. Best Fish Tacos in Baltimore(wish they were on their lunch menu!) Five Stars for sure.
(5)Chris H.
I have been here numerous times and besides the wait-staff being rather unfriendly, had never had negative experiences. However my last few visits were subpar. The burger, usually amazing, came well done despite the medium-rare that i ordered. The blackbean burger, usually crispy, came out a sloppy mess on a VERY stale bun on my last visit. That being said, great beer selection and laid back atmosphere. Apps are all delicious. Maybe stick to happy hour
(3)Kat C.
At first, I was concerned. My boyfriend had walked right by the door with the giant Alewife sign above it. And then? I was dismayed - stairs! I tragically had donned flip flops in the boorish heat of summer, how could I traverse such things? But then, as we crested the summit, a puzzling sign. Actually the sign it self wasn't a puzzle, unless you're dyslexic, then I suppose every sign could be an adventure. "Please seat yourself" for lunch? Unheard of! I mean, it's as though they want to have a welcoming, easygoing atmosphere for folks wandering in off the street for lunch! The nerve! We sat at the bar and found ourselves... sitting at a bar. While I couldn't tell you what type of wood it was made of, or the origin of the 3rd lumberjack to slice at it, I can tell you it was a very comfortable bar. Our waitress, bartend-ress, gave us a smile that let us know she was genuinely interested in these strange, bedraggled people who had bumped into the Alewife's state of existence. She greeted us, asked if we knew what we wanted to drink. A deep surprise exploded from my boyfriend's mouth: "It's early in the day, I'D LIKE A LIGHTER BEER PLEASE" as I reeled from the implications that he was not interested in a pint of beer so black that light had only a piece of floss and a thumbtack in order to escape it - our waitress very kindly gave him a few samples of some of their local brews. She then turned to me and asked me if I would also like a lighter beer. Time, my brain, and I think something deep under the sewers stopped. Yes? What would you like? Something... lighter than what he has? Okay, how about... My mind was swimming in beautiful combinations of hops, wheat, barley, water, and eventually agave. While my mind was swimming, my mouth was running on finicky autopilot. With the swift and gentle actions of a woman who knows where everything in her kitchen/bar was, she gave me sample after sample. My tastebuds had to cooperating nature of a rhinocerous with a sinus infection. Fortunately, she eased me into a novel concept. One unheard of for centuries, if at all. A menu. With descriptions of the beers. Hence, I ended up with a lovely brew made with Agave. The lunch menu was reasonable, not overwhelming or overflowing with grease and misery. My boyfriend chose his pub staple - fish and chips. BUT LO - these chips were not ordinary fries! They were - YUCCA! Delicious, delicious yucca fries. Did we know what the hell a yucca plant was? I did, from nefarious studies deep in the recesses of the bio hall in college. The boyfriend? Knew it from Fallout New Vegas. I ordered the tomato soup. This soup arrived unassuming on my lovely bowl sitting on my lovely plate accompanied with a lovely cheese sandwich. When I surreptitiously slurped the first slurp of soup I was not prepared for the SWEET SOUR SALTY PEPPERY UMAMI BACON TASTING HOLY MOLEY WHY IS THIS JUST SOUP?! The waitress, my god she just stood there - knowing. Knowing that we were experiencing pub food that reached deep into us and pulled out our delightfully hairy and wholesome hobbit selves. Have you ever reached your hobbit self? Have you ever been so content with the atmosphere, the food, the beer, the company what you just want to pull out a long pipe, light up some moss, and call it "the loveliest little place in the Shire"? HAVE YOU?! Mulling over pleasant current affairs with your date and the staff, feeling the warm wood beneath your fingers as you push away from the bar, and realizing that your cool beer is still sitting patiently for you to finish it - these are the things that make one have a hobbit meal. Come to the Alewife, and find your inner Hobbit.
(5)Erin A.
Seriously, in the 3 months I have been in Maryland, this is the best place I have found!! Too bad it is a whopping two hour drive from where I live and this gal likes to drank, so I will rarely get to go! We have been there twice now, once before a game and once on our way to the airport (don't judge). They have an amazing beer selection, lots of IPA! Both times we have been, the bartenders and other staff are knowledgeable about the beer which is hard to find! They will let you taste too, which I like with craft beer. the food, what we have had anyway, is awesome. I have had the chicken salad (really unique and good) and the veggie burger...it is prob the best veggie burger I have had (but I am a meat eater so I don't order them terribly often) My man friend got the smoke house burger both times we went, and seriously had a man-gasm both times! The staff is so nice, and the people we have met sitting at the bar are equally cool! you would be silly not to go to this place, and I am jealous of those who live closer!!!
(5)J R.
Agree! The best burger and it is worth the wait! Forget about the fries, nothing to brag about, that is why I gave a four star. The burger needs a match. Cozy good crowd, good service, very busy call for reservation it will save you time.
(4)Abigail C.
I decided to take my boyfriend here for his birthday because he is a big fan of craft brews! I was a little concerned when we first sat down because we were right on top of the table next to us, but this wasn't much of an issue. My boyfriend extremely excited that they had Rogue Dead Guy Ale on draft! For an appetizer we got the duck fat fries with a spicy chipotle dipping sauce, and the truffled mac and cheese! Both were amazing, the mac and cheese especially. For dinner my boyfriend ordered the smoked burger and he absolutely love it! The only reason I gave Alewife four stars rather than five was because I ordered the Grilled Skirt Steak with sweet mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus, in like a smoky glaze and I was not impressed. The sweet mashed poatoes and grilled asparagus were alright, but the Kobe Streak was fatty and just did not taste right with the sauce. Our service was good! The building that Alewife is in was a renovated Bank and it is absolutely incredible inside!
(4)H C.
In Baltimore on short notice, looked for a place to eat by asking Uncle Yelp (that guy knows all the good places) and settled on Alewife. Here's the nutshell version of what I experienced. It's both very good and bad, bordering on very bad, all at the same table. The smoke burger was very, very good. None of the inconsistent bacon issues others spoke of, cooked just right (med rare) and delicious. The skirt steak though was mediocre, with a weak sauce, and the mashed sweet potatoes were passed around for the "oh, wow" factor only. Not in a good way, sadly. Everything else from the remainder of the food choices our party made to the service, atmosphere etc. was between "good enough, certainly nothing to complain about" and very good, but not necessarily excellent. Beer list is as everyone says, very large, very good quality. Can't go wrong there if that's what you're after. Would I return? Absolutely, especially if I was in that part of town. Would I rave over it, insist others go, and refuse to try other places? No, the inconsistencies were too much. I also would not walk very far away from the front door after dark, but that's a separate issue. Let's just say that if you aren't from the City you might feel more comfortable with a cab than walking to a car at night.
(3)Chaka H.
So... I'm not the biggest fan of beer, but I may have converted after going here! That have an extensive collection of brews and I chose the Alabash white, and I finished my entire glass. Yeee! The nice thing about their selection is that they give you taste tests in small- shot like glasses. But, beware, read the menu closely! If you order a glass of brew and you don't like it... you cannot send it back, that's why you taste before you order! I love this. We ordered the calamari for our appetizer, and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't covered in oil and fried stuff- I actually tasted the squid. YUM. Between the two of us, we ordered the smoke burger- APPLE WOOD BACON changed my LIFE, beef, cipollini onions, amazingness- I couldn't finish it because it was larger than me, but it was delicious and the kobe beef hot dog- which was tasty, but it was nothing to write home about. The vibe is super chill, and great for watching local sports (a Ravens game was on when we went!). I can definitely see myself (and the boyfriend) becoming regulars here!
(4)Norman M.
A very lively place for a good pub meal. They have an impressive list of beers available on tap. The Smoke Burger was a great choice. Gouda, thick cut bacon and duck fat fries! My wife's fish tacos were tasty as well. A little cramped but not uncomfortable. We were there during and after a baseball game so the noise level was loud but not so bad that we could not converse. They seemed a bit understaffed as well. Overall good choice.
(3)Jarrett H.
We didn't have any food, but before dealing with a wedding and my girlfriend's family, we needed a drink. Yelp, being happy to tell us where to find a good beer selection, directed us to Alewife. Sparsely populated in the mid-afternoon, there are three sections from what I could tell: A few large tables for groups or standard sit-down eating, a few high-top tables with stools for casual meetings, and the many-tapped bar. The beer menu is written on a chalkboard, but instead of selecting a single one, Alewife offers flights: four 4oz samples selected by the bartender. We asked about the regional sampler, and after mentioning we were from Pittsburgh went without the NY and PA breweries we were used to. To me this was a nice surprise, that the flights are not profit-optimized pourings written by the manager before each shift. The bartender asked what we liked and used his best judgement to give us a well-rounded sample of regional brews. Also, he was happy to give us a sample of a different one that we had been interested in. Good place to grab a drink - This place especially had a lot of Dogfish Head(I think), and a lot of Stone - many being limited release drafts.
(4)Jeffrey S.
Went for a burger and a beer before the O's home opener. A group of 8 of us sat upstairs. Everyone raved about their food and beer. Most of us had the smoke burger and it was one of the best burgers I have had. Great selection of beer. Love the idea of converting old buildings as well, so the atmosphere was great. Wish we had more time to try more beer!!
(5)Mikey Dreidel B.
By far te best burger I've ever eaten & devil eggs as an app was amazing!!
(4)John T.
Very good beer bar and restaurant. I don't know if I would call this a gastropub, but it's close. There are a few reasons I wouldn't take it to the lofty connotation of gastropub. The menu is not very diverse, specials seem to be sparse, no suggested beer pairings, and style diversity on the beer menu could be a little better. Of course they specialize in IPAs and Belgium Beers, and they do not disappoint in that regard. Of course I make mention of the slim menu, but it is very good. Have not had anything that is disappointing. The ambiance is also very nice. Dimly lit with exposed Edison style bulbs, highlighting the age of the beautiful old bank. There is a table in the original front door that is now floor to ceiling glass that is a pleasure to sit in. There is also a large chalkboard displaying their current beer offerings. Kind of. Apparently they put things up there that aren't available yet, which can be a bit of tease. Service is good, even on the busiest of days. Prices are fair ad well. Some might thing the Smoke Burger is a little pricy at $15, but given the high quality ingredients I would disagree. However the advertised 11oz burger might be an inflated weight. There is also a $12 Kobe Beef Hot Dog I have yet to try. I have heard good things about it, but I just can't seem to allow myself to pay more for a hot dog than is charged at a Raven's game. Please don't be turned off by any of my criticisms. This is a great place that enjoy visiting whenever I can.
(4)Kathy Y.
Truffle Mac N Cheese - amazing. Lick your plate good.
(4)Nate P.
Had dinner here based on Yelp review on my first night of a fun weekend in Baltimore. Hit the spot completely. I had one of their very fun cocktails while my partner had one of the rare beers. It says on the menu that you'll get to try the rare beer before they pull you a full glass, to make sure you like it, but that was not actually the case. Luckily it was a good choice! The food was fantastic and really hit the spot after a long day of traveling. If you don't like it loud or need your server to be elegant, this might not be the spot for you. Definitely a youngish crowd that was enjoying the place, not rushing through their meals.
(4)andrew y.
Truffle Mac and cheese was wonderful. They used a wonderful choice of cheeses that were well balanced and not overpowering. The crunchiness on the top was also quite delightful. The smoke burger lived up to it's outstanding reputation. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out they do beer flights! Good choice and great option for dinner before a show at the Hippodrome which is right across the street. I recommend you call for reservations.
(4)Nelson C.
The drinks are very small and even more expensive. There was so little alcohol that I had to approach the bartender to ask if she had even put any in my drink at all. For $10 I expect more than a pathetic excuse for a Jack and Coke. The Gumbo tasted like the slop that they would feed inmates at Shawshank prison and you would be better off spending your money else where.
(1)Renee C.
Overall Alewife is really good. The atmosphere is great. We went during lunch and the service was pretty slow. I got the shrimp po boy, but it is hard to say how good it actually is because it was missing the sauce. I asked repeatedly for sauce but it never came, even though we were one of two tables in the entire restaurant. My boyfriend got the smoke burger and he loved it, especially the bacon. It was nicely seasoned and the meat was tender. We shared the duck fat fries and they were good but, I don't think that they were worth the extra $1.50. Although we didn't try any of the beers, the selection was impressive and demonstrated a great knowledge of craft brewing. The artwork was fantastic and the restaurant looks really cool.
(3)Scott G.
I've been waiting for a beer bar on the West Side for some time. Brewer's Art is fine, but I don't really like drinking their homegrown beers. I want a hoppy Stone IPA. Thankfully, Alewife has just that and tons more. Their beer selection is off the hook with tons of bottles and draughts. I haven't tried the food, but I can say the beer selection, the aesthetics of the venue, and the friendly waitstaff are enough to give it five stars. The location is not ideal. It's rather desolate on weekend nights. In fact, I went to retrieve money from the Bank of America ATM around the corner on a Saturday night. I walked up to the ATM and immediately a man stopped right behind me and asked for something. I bolted before I could ask him to repeat himself. Considering that it's not centrally located in the younger neighborhoods is all the more reason to go there. Support this place so it doesn't go the way of other failed business ventures in West Baltimore.
(5)Danielle R.
The food was wonderful and there was an amazing selection of well crafted beers to choose from. Be sure to make a reservation or get there early for Happy Hour.
(4)Adam C.
Hello Yelpers, Wow what can you say? An amazing beer selection, one hell of a Kobe Beef Hotdog, you must try it to understand its goodness, and from what i can tell the Burger looks amazing and smells even better, I have not personally tried this burger , but plan to very soon, Every time I turn my head, I see it when it hits the table, I turn around 5 mins later and its already been eaten, this is a huge burger and my clock may be run by amazing beer, but everyone eats this thing in its entirety. No lie... Go see for yourself. I tend to go with new beers every time I go, because hey, they have so many to choose from. Check it out, bring some friends, enjoy the conversations, and the ambiance of an old Bank, they still have a vault in there on the way to the bathroom, pretty sweet. Brian Palombo, this is the manager. If you have a chance to talk to him when he is there, please do. He is a wealth of information when it comes to Baltimore and will know someone you know from where ever you are from, thats how it worked for us. We live next door , so we try to go as often as possible. Ask Brian about the "Night of 100 Elvises" He describes this mythical night quite well and may even reccomend you try the drink of Christmas! Alewife, I give it 2 thumbs up and 5 stars. I am sorry 1 out of 1000 don't feel the same! Enjoy!
(5)Kojo B.
Ok, first things first the service was really really bad the bar and the restaurant by and large was empty but our waitress rarely checked on us. Slow and un-attentive to say the least. Anyway, let's move on to the food shall we. So prior to going I checked the yelp reviews and everyone raved on and on about this smokehouse burger as being the best burger in Baltimore. Obviously my expectations and bar had been set very high, so needless to say I ordered the smokehouse and boy was I disappointed. The bacon was burnt and was hard as rocks, I ordered my burger medium well, it was terrible it sought of reminded me of burgers at hard rock cafe not earth shattering but basic. I am pretty positive that I can hook up a better seasoned burger. Anyhow when someone says that Alewife's burgers are the best in bmore it's quite possible that some adult beverages have clouded their judgement. I will stick to Abbey's and will try out Hamilton Tavern at a latter time. Also i had fries along with my burger, and if that is what was masquerading as duck fat fries then it is the worst i have ever had.
(2)Stacey G.
Sorry to those who thought much higher of this place than me but I've had a lot better for better prices. The best parts about this place is their draught beers and the setting. Great selection and the server was able to describe them thoroughly. The service was also pretty good. The disappointment? Kind of important component: the food. The duck fat fries were over seasoned. The chipotle aioli with all the seasoning on the fries was just too much. One of us had the burger and I simply don't get what everyone is raving about. It was good, yes, but the best burger you've ever had? I'm afraid those folks aren't getting out enough. I don't like being able to taste a charcoal flavor more than the meat. The meats get lost in all the onion, cheese, chipotle. It's just too much going on. We subbed asparagus for the fries and the asparagus were like tree trunk size and were over grilled. (I'll go to Pappa's if I want mushy asparagus.) Also, not sure why we were charged for subbing. The asparagus side is cheaper than the fries. But whatever. We also had the BBQ shrimp and grits. The flavor of the grits was pretty good. The shrimp were cooked nicely. Not really a strong BBQ flavor but I was OK with that. The real problem was the grits were lumpy. Not just small lumps either. Imagine lumps the size of toast points. At $20, you'd think grits could be smooth. Shows a lack of care/consistency. One last note - we were seated upstairs in that small area overlooking the bar. It was so loud at points we gave up talking to each other. Granted it was a Friday night after 7 so noise levels will be higher but the noise cast a shadow over the entire evening. Incidentally, not sure if they have desserts. We were never offered any. We'll go again. Maybe this time they'll have the radish wraps, which I wanted to try. Beer selection is worth another visit. And we have another groupon so not going to let it go to waste but I hope our second visit is redeeming.
(2)Darcy P.
from what I hear--one of top 3 burgers in the city. but I don't agree. they mix the smoked gouda in with ground meat...and I think the flavor gets lost. but friends LOVE LOVE LOVE it. "3 types of meat and 11 oz!" and, to be fair, I'm not a big burger eater. So when I do have a bite, I want it to be magnificent. I've tried this one twice and twice decided not worth eating more. also, the burger wasn't cooked as ordered, but hey. the beer selection is fantastic. the vibe is great. the entire menu is also good and elevated from normal bar food--with good prices, too! the service is nice but really slow, though prob more a management issue than a server issue, i.e., put more bartenders or servers on a shift. two bartenders with a big packed bar just doesn't cut it. we have season tickets to the hippodrome and go here before the shows. it's packed but worth it. it's a welcome addition to the neighborhood and worth checking out.
(4)Cesar G.
I was in Baltimore for a conference recently and decided to check out Alewife with three colleagues based on Yelp and a Baltimore Magazine review. I wasn't disappointed. It has a great ambiance, a delicious black bean burger, and a great beer and cocktail menu. I would definitely be open to returning next time I'm in town.
(4)Linda L.
I used to really like Alewife the first couple times I went, but I've been totally disappointed lately. I keep coming back because it's only a block away from my boyfriend's apartment and it serves food late enough at night that if I'm unwise enough to procrastinate on dinner, there's always somewhere to go besides Panera or Subway. They have a gigantic beer menu so there's always something new to try. The restaurant is situated in an old building that used to be a bank at some point, so there's some cool architecture going on as well. As far as a bar food goes, it's hit and miss, and pricey for what you get. The famous smoke burger is not any more special than burgers you can get at any other restaurant or gastropub, yet is several dollars more expensive. My favorite dish here used to be the mushroom risotto cakes, but they seemed to have removed it from the menu. Just as well, considering the last time I got it, the cakes weren't warm all the way through and the crust was far from crispy. The fennel frites also used to be a favorite of mine, but when I got them off the late night menu this past weekend, I think the cook accidentally threw in some calamari into the fryer. The batter was also sub-par. What was supposed to be a light and crispy tempura batter was instead a heavy, overcooked fried dough coating the slices of fennel (and calamari...). I could go on about my various disappointing experiences here but I'll spare you the details. There really aren't very many restaurants in this area besides chains, so Alewife isn't a terrible option, especially if you don't want to walk down to the mediocre, touristy restaurants at the Inner Harbor.
(2)D V.
I love coming here! This is my 7th trip here and I always get the burger with duck fat fries. It is the BEST burger I have ever had. Also I want to say thank you to Kelsey would fished my retainer out of the trash.
(5)Greg M.
After reading all the reviews about the smoke burger i may have set my expectations too high. It was a red robin quality hamburger at best... On the brighter side, they have a draft list that will please any beer snob and the duck fat fries are worth the trip alone.
(3)Meatdowntown C.
I went again to try the Cubano sandwich but it is gone. I did try the burger at it was very good as well as the Tilapia tacos. the service at the bar is kind of funky. the bartenders think they are too cool for the curstomers. Still good food and a great variety of beer.
(3)Carl A.
I really want to like Alewife. Anyplace devoted to various "good" beers that ISN'T Max's makes me incredibly happy. We should have 10 restaurants and bars that have this kind of selection so that I never have to deal with the crowds that Max's brings. I went to Alewife last night with my boyfriend, and two other couples. It was crowded; we got there right before Les Miserables started across the street at the Hippodrome, and so we were waiting for a table. I draped my coat across a chair, and while I was ordering a beer at the bar, my compatriots were scolded for it. I wouldn't be irked by this ordinarily, if we hadn't been given that exact table 10 minutes later. The beer selection here is great. They have a LOT of different varieties. We seemed to stick to the draft beers...I ordered a Stone IPA, and two Allagash Blacks. The other dudes that were there are very adventurous, and had fun picking through the beer list and debating the merits and downfalls of each. The food was tasty, too. I wasn't too hungry, so I just ordered Cream of Crab soup, which was pretty good. Also ordered were Duck Fat Fries, which were also fairly good (though I do have a problem faking the seemingly requisite orgasm noise accompanying their arrival on the table), as well as Shrimp Croquettes (Only three?? Come on!) and Mushroom Risotto Cakes, which were kind of skimpy. My boyfriend ordered the Black Bean Burger, which was tasty (I had a sample...dating perks), but was...rather squishy. It virtually disintegrated when squeezed. The service here was pretty slow, especially disproportionate when considering how the crowd thinned out a little bit as the play began across the street. Our server was knowledgable, and very passionate about the beer served, but was wearing a Nike Performance shirt. Like, I wore the same shirt the day before on a run. It bothered me enough to comment about it...it just seemed a little unimpressive. I'd go back...but if similar pub popped up in Baltimore, I'd go there instead.
(3)Sarah S.
Loved the food, beer, and ambiance of Alewife. The only downside was the mostly inattentive staff. Definitely worth giving a second chance.
(4)Rick S.
First time. Got in around 830pm; wasn't crowded at all and grabbed a seat wherever. Food was upscale and had the price to match; same with the beer ($21 for steak and $7 for a rare beer) but you get what you pay for. All around good place to visit.
(4)Lois B.
The first time we had the smoked burger which was fine. This time we ordered the Maryland crab cakes. The cake was very small and the price was quite high for what it was. Two small crab cakes, one fried green tomato and a very small salad. The best part of the dinner was the wine.
(3)Mark F.
Great beer selection! I ordered the Kobe hotdog to eat. The sausage and mustards were great but the roll did not seem fresh at all.
(3)Ben H.
Walked into Misfits 20 Eyes, then talked to Chef Chad Wells for 2 mins. Great guy. Then the Cure Just like heaven hit. I've got a new home in Baltimore. Shit, I just realized I haven't said a word about the food. Ok, two words. Smoke Burger. And anything this man does with snakehead fish is magic!
(4)Marlee S.
For a place that wasn't super full, it sure took a LONG time to get our drinks and food. The pluses are their beer selection. The food is on the pricier side for a bar.
(2)David M.
This place has a constantly rotating selection of fantastic craft beers and one of the best burgers you'll ever find. Everything on the menu is pretty good but that Smoke Burger is really something special. Try it.
(5)Roz S.
Excellent! Beer and food were terrific! Duck fries, mac n' cheese, and peach quesadillas were all delicious. Friendly service.
(5)Casey T.
We stopped in after reading other yelp reviews. Tried a selection of different beers and ordered some calamari which was excellent. We also ordered two burgers and true to their word (it is stated on the menu that the burgers take a long time to make) we waited probably about 40 minutes for them. The ambiance and decor of the restaurant is very neat. We sat at the bar which was comfortable. The bartenders were nice enough but nothing particularly special.
(4)Whitney T.
I didn't eat here, just had drinks...the beer selection is really amazing! If you're a beer person, this is your place. However, they don't carry Miller Lite, Bud Light, or any of those types of beer, so if you're in the mood for something low-key, this is not your place.
(3)Jeff C.
Bad service and way overpriced. Had wings, quesadilla and duck fat fries; all were very good. However, they were double the price for what you can get in just as good a place here in Baltimore. We sat at the bar and service was bad. Couldn't get a bartender to bring a glass of water, she was too busy chatting with a friend at the end of the bar. And to top it off, she overcharged us on the number of beers we had! Unfortunately, I didn't notice until we had left. Liked the food, beer selection and atmosphere but this place is a rip off with bad service.
(2)Devin R.
The Smoke Burger was the best burger ever to have passed these lips. Pair that with a very large beer selection and you have the perfect man meal. Try it with the Stone Double Bastard or Lucky Bastard. When i make the move to Bmore this will certainly be one of my top hangouts
(5)Julian G.
Fantastic service, delicious food, cool atmosphere... great time!!!
(5)Travis B.
Disappointed. This is my 2nd time coming here. I had the Cuban sandwich the first and it was amazing. This time around I tried the smoke burger per reviews. I was not impressed. My burger was undercooked completely raw in the middle. The bun was overly grease. The duck fries were grease and undercooked. Don't get me wrong these food items are grease but this was not appetizing. I'm sticking with a three because they have a great beer selection, they do have some great dishes and my food was flavorful, just poorly cooked.
(3)Jon L.
I can't get enough of the smoke burger. The rest of the menu is so appetizing but I can't go there and order anything else. I managed to share an appetizer last time and got the wings. They were amazing. Yesterday, I shared the fish tacos as an appetizer before the burger. I left there so full but wanting more...Can't wait to go back..
(5)Matthew V.
The Alewife is all about the beer. They offer a enormous list of beers you've never heard of and it changes weekly. You can request samples of beers before buying. The food is upscale pub fare (burgers, fries) and is quite tasty - just not the best I've ever had. Portions are good, the decor is nice, and the wait staff is helpful (ask them for a beer recommendations). You're typical patrons are yuppies. Not a 5 star rating because its slightly overpriced and the conditions of the Groupon they offered were pretty restrictive; but I'll definitely be back.
(4)Steve S.
We visited Alewife for the first time on Friday evening before a concert at the Hippodrome. Our party of six arrived at bit late but our reservations were held and our table was ready. The hostess was very friendly and greeted us warmly. We waited about 5 minutes for a server and our drinks were brought quickly. Our food was a very different story. Our party elected to order burgers to save time but our food took almost any hour to arrive. To be fair, our server warned us to order quickly and the owner sent us a round of drinks but we were about 10 minutes late to the show. The "smoke burger" was fantastic and the beer selection vast. I will go back, but not before a show.
(4)Brian O.
Great food and friendly service. The Smoke Burger exceeded all expectations, and the duck fat fries were something special. Grilled cheese and tomato soup were also a good choice. Our six-year old enjoyed the kid's grilled cheese. The beer selection was excellent, although being from California, it had a lot that were familiar from home, I had to ask what was local to this area.
(5)Julius B.
Great spot across from Hippodrome theater. Smoke burger is the bomb! Maybe the best cheeseburger in town. Calamari appetizer terrible. Overpriced and soup like texture. Fries were good but great. Great wait staff. Crazy selection of drafts. The Sierra Nevada holiday pale ale was tops. I will repeat.
(4)Leslie B.
Good food, although I do sometimes think it's a bit more expensive than it should be. Best beer selection in that area of downtown (i.e. waaaaay better than Pickles, Frank & Nic's, etc.)
(4)Jayson H.
Off night maybe? I read all of these reviews and wonder if I even ate at the same place... Oh yeah, I did. Just finished eating there and won't be back. While they have an awesome selection of beers the staff, at least our waitress, wasn't very knowledgeable about the breweries. She recommended a pilsner that was actually an ale. I had the fish tacos and the tortillas were browned to such a crisp they broke into pieces when trying to eat them like a taco. The "Alewife Salad" was almost completely dry and about 98% greens with limited good stuff - blue cheese, apple, asparagus, etc. When I asked for more salad dressing they gave me some but also charged me for it. Pretty sad to need to charge extra for salad dressing for an $8 salad. Waitress was disinterested in her job and spent most of her time reading at the other side of the restaurant. Then after I confronted her on the extra charge for the salad dressing she said, "Have a nice night" with a smirk and a bit of stink on it. Obviously the manager knew that I had questioned her on the salad dressing (saw the two of them discussing it when she settled the bill). Pros - Amazing beer selection Cons - expensive for serving size, more style over substance with food, slow service (even on a night when they were not busy), staff doesn't know enough about beer, poor attitude I won't go back. I suggest you save your money and visit any of the local places that have great service and great food. Alewife, you've been 86'd.
(2)Mike D.
Round two...took Mom to Alewife for her birthday and it was the bomb! Thai peanut chicken wings for appetizer was soooooo good,crispy,big,tasty...get them! We both ordered the Smoke burger and again it was terrific. I only ate some fries and half my burger cuz I wanted to try dessert and last time I ate the whole thing and was full as shit. We both got the caramel and apple cheese cake ....yea yeahhhhhh....fuckin tasty!!! Go there get the same things I got and eat dat shit!!!!
(5)Lindsey M.
The burger and fries are absolutely amazing. However, it's pretty overpriced. The atmosphere is great, but its pretty loud. The servers are pretty distant and not very engaging, but overall that's okay. We asked for a recommendation for beer and described the types we like and had to end up paying for this awful beer at the recommendation of the waiter. It was nothing like what we liked. If your waiter seems unsure, then just ask a bartender or google something ahead of time for what you'd like to try. The ciders there are very good, and I was pleasantly surprised by the berry cider. Be sure to make a reservation as its always fairly full.
(4)Dave M.
Great atmosphere! Great brew selection! Little bit hipster, not in a bad way tho. Smoke burger is the boss :) Honestly NO complaints! I will be back!
(5)Miriam B.
This was my 2nd trip here. They have a huge beer list. And some nice cocktails. I tried the pear cocktail and the Baltimore cocktail. My husband tried the IPA beer flight. I tried a sip of it and even though I'm not a beer lover it was very tasty. We had the cheese and meat board, Thai wings and the crab cakes for appetizers. They smoke their own salmon and chorizo and serve it with aged cheddar, gherkins, blue cheese and house glazed cashews on their meat and cheese board. It paired perfectly with the beer. The Thai wings had this sweet/ spicy glaze on them that was kind of addictive. The crab cakes were tasty little morsels of crab meat. We also enjoyed the mussels in a spicy lobster broth. The Cuban sandwich was also a stand out. Thin layers of ham, pork, cheese, pickles and mustard grilled perfectly on Cuban bread. For a side dish the grilled asparagus was terrific. Great option for a vegetarian. We had a sponge cake with keylime ice cream for dessert. It was the perfect ending to our meal. Very nice service too.
(5)Jesse K.
With little reluctance I was brought back to this establishment for a work get-together and my experience this time really changed my mind for the better about Alewife. Although the Stone IPA was out, I was recommended the Green Flash IPA by our server and it was kick butt. Based on other reviews I ordered the smoke burger and it was served perfecto medium rare and also kicked butt. Delicious. Rounded out the night with a Green Flash "Palette Wrecker" imperial IPA, which was one of the best beers I have ever tasted and a personal recommend by the owner, with whom I chatted while we were washing our hands in the restroom, of all places. The service was great; she broke our tab into multiple separate checks without issue and our food came out much more quickly than I thought it would. We had a very nice time. I would gladly come back again.
(4)Lindsay R.
If you go for nothing else, the smoke burger is worth the trip! There is also a very wide selection of beer that is reasonably priced. The service is not as attentive as it could be, but still a place worth visiting. Also, if you come in a group over 3 then prepare to pay as a group
(4)Jamie S.
I'm so glad someone is making use of this location because the building is so beautiful. If you remember Lucy's Irish Restaurant from back in the day this is what's there now. Right across from the Hippodrome so go in and grab a pint before the show. Alewife has kept this location classy and is bringing herds folks in because this place was packed by 5:30 when I was there. For the beer snob in you this place will probably have something to your liking. When I was there I had the local Stillwater Autumnal (x3) and it was a satisfying drop. I didn't sample much of the food but friends who ordered were pleased with the attention to detail in their dishes and the burgers looked to be totally bangin'. Beers are strong! Not many wimpy beers here. I'd say the average abv is about 7-8% with drinks like the Victory Storm hovering around 1000% abv. Beers are a bit on the pricey side so bring your beer money. No Dollar Draughts here but the value is there. It's easy to socialize in a bar like this and I had an all around good feeling with this place (did I mention the beers were strong?). You can tell these folks have a good vision and are seeing it through. I have to go now. Need to find more change in the couch cushions. I gotta go back. I wonder if Alewife cashes tax return checks. I'll ask.
(4)Victoria L.
Last Friday, I was pinged by a couple other Yelpers that they were going to try Alewife for Happy Hour, and since the place is a whopping 3 blocks from my downtown office, I was ecstatic to drink after work and stumble home. So, working and living downtown, you learn that every bar has its own feel and you can't judge the bar by the neighborhood or the neighborhood by the bar. Alewife borders Harbor East and Downtown and the interior is really what you'd expect - classy and polished but open and a very lively place. The bar was *already* hopping, even though I was the first of the group to get there at 5:30 - I got the last seat at the bar. I asked the waitress if they could accomodate a party of 10-20 people, and she said that they were already expecting a couple of larger groups who called ahead. Popular place! It wasn't a big deal at all since none of us mind crowding the bar. I got about 57 ciders, the tomato soup, and the world's classiest hot dog, while my SO got the cubano and about 83 hop-heavy drafts. We were only there until about 7:30 but managed to drink and eat up a $100 bill by the end, and it was worth every penny. Also, kudos to the female bar tender who remembered what I was drinking even though she didn't pour my first one. She did pour my next 56 though. :D
(4)john f.
been to alewife a few times now. the smoke burger lives up to the hype. they have a million beers on tap, and a staff that is knowledgeable and helpfull. However, be warned, my buddy ordered the skirt steak and it was pathetically small. Skirt steak is generally a cheap cut and he figured $21 would get him a generous portion. but you'd have thought it was filet mignon, the portion was so tiny for the price. hence the 4 stars, everything else about the place is 5 star though.
(4)Felix G.
Located in the ghetto. But great burger. If you dont get scared easily def stop by.
(4)shawn g.
Great beer selection and servers that were willing to accommodate us after our fennel fries arrived and we realized that it was not fries dusted with fennel, but strips of fennel, deep fried. The smoke burger did take a while as promised, but I thought the taste was well worth it. The sauteed onions, sauce and seasoning played very well together. The duck fat fries were also good and not nearly as overwhelming as other places I've ordered them. The Lady enjoyed her grilled shrimp and gruyere grits, but couldn't finish. If you go here in the evening and get the table by the big window, be prepared for the attention you'll get from passers by.
(4)Kay G.
Food was awesome, the service quick (especially for marathon weekend!). I was a little bummed that they were out of at least 1/4 of the draft beers I was interested in, but the buffalo chicken soup certainly made up for it.
(4)Owen R.
Train wreck for service at Alewife Since I received a call confirming my reservation, I should have realized that the dinner might come off the tracks when the hostess had no evidence of a reservation. Despite the fact it was Saturday at 6pm the fact we were seated promptly, was a good recovery.... But things deteriorated. Good service is not just superior table tending, but coordination between the kitchen and the floor with intervention by management when the two are not in alignment. Some one should tell Alewife. This restaurant is across the street from Baltimore's major performing arts center, The Hippodrome Theater and I would suggest, could be responsible for a large portion of their business given the lack of suitable dining within walking distance. We notified the server of our need to have our "feet on the street" 20 minutes prior to curtain which we were told would not be a problem as we mentioned this one hour and forty minutes in advance of that deadline. Our four top ordered two salads, a black bean cake and a mussels / soup combo for the fourth at 6:20. We heeded the server's gospel to allow for some "more time" for any meat dishes...which evidently included a 4 oz portion of flank steak on one of the salads. Drinks arrived (13 minutes: 1 beer, 2 cocktails, one glass of wine) . The bar was lively - but not so packed so much that an efficient bartender team (?) could not handle. 10 minutes after the drinks were delivered, one of the diner's meals food arrives cold and in advance of all the other dishes. So one person eats while the others watch. Food quality comment: The soup and mussels were cold and the mussel dish had no broth. While I understand it is the chef's purview to prepare dishes how he / she sees fit, this was strange given that the dish came with bread and that I've never seen mussels served sans broth. Tomato soup was average. 7:10 pm - still no food and the waiter's hair is not on fire with this fact. Table tending was failing by all standards at this point. 7:25 (still no food) I've made management aware that at 7:40 we need leaving little time to eat assuming the food ever came out of the kitchen, which is concern. to leave shortly. Other diners adjacent to us are experiencing the same issues and they were seated only moments after us. 7:35 pm our food arrives (with server apologies) to the three diners in our party who of course have to literally eat and run to make the curtain. A bottle of wine was taken off the check and a box was brought to the table so we could fill our own leftovers. (Question: why does scraping the food off your plate on the table seem so much more objectionable than having a server do this out of sight?) So the moral of the story is this: there is a huge disconnect between the servers on the floor, the capabilities of the kitchen and the ability of management to handle either. The kitchen can't queue up food properly, which then leads to them not being able to keep food hot and they can't handle a theater rush. Hint: wouldn't the "theater rush" be your major preparation drill - especially weekends when a Broadways smash hit is playing 75 feet way for a month? Alewife's menu is bar-food average but aspires to be a bit more hip. A huge amount of mciro-draughts is attractive and the old bank space shows well. But Alewife, the third iteration of a bistro in t this space in approximately 5 years needs to wake up and manage the diner queue, realizing that the location is perpetually in the cross hairs of a dinner rush as a result of their proximity to a theater (a year round driver of business.) If they do not, look for a fourth operator in the space shortly.
(2)Deb S.
The food was great, but the kitchen lost our order so I can't give it 5 stars. We arrived early and although our table was empty and reserved, they wouldn't seat us. They also made us stand in the bar for 20 minutes and we had to close that bill out before we walked 20 feet to our dinner table. Very high noise level. We got an appetizer in just a few minutes - fried calamari and it was very good, great sauce. Then we waited an hour and several followups with our waitress and another server to eventually get out meal, barely in time to make it to the theater. Did not enjoy rushing the food when we finally got it, but we all felt the food was excellent. Two people commented that their crab cakes were the best they have had, which is a lot coming from a real Baltimorean! The oyster appetizer and the fried artichokes were fabulous as well. The waitress was terrific except for not realizing the order was lost. We all agreed we would come back again, enjoyed the food and atmosphere - we just won't be such patient patrons next time:)
(4)Mike M.
I've been here about 5 times now. The hamburger and beer selection are pretty unsurpassed for Balto. Crab cake appetizer was decent. They may have more beers somewhere (like Max's maybe) but the bartender's know more about how to guide you through a tasting. When I came with my son and the place was packed, the hostess helped accomodate us in the bar area which she didn't have to go through the trouble of doing. Would probably give them 4.5 stars. Do open table on game days as there are a lot of groups.
(4)Tori H.
A friend had reported back that he ate at Alewife and had THE BEST steak paired with red wine, that he has ever had. My husband (also a chef), immediately had to go. Between 3 people, we ordered the Wild Mushroom Risotto Cake (seemed a bit flavorless), Kobe Beef Hot Dog (definitely interesting), Shrimp Croquette (didn't taste much of the shrimp), and Mussels. Wasn't thrilled with the dishes, but our friends experience will keep us going back a 2nd time to try the steak. The beer selection, however, is phenomenal! Would definitely go back if for nothing else but happy hour.
(3)Brian And Fran M.
Overall - a gorgeous space and excellent beer selection, but the rest needs some refinement. This is a great beer-lover's bar with a gourmet light-fare menu. Calling is a restaurant, though, seems a stretch. Given the ambitious menu, my table unanimously remarked "good potential" but "lacking execution". It's advised to make a reservation - the hostess was less than willing to give up even a long empty table for fear of being unable to seat reservations. When we finally got a table, after watching others seat themselves, the waitresses and bartenders seemed experienced, but food was slow to arrive. When it did arrive it looked great, but my much-anticipated Smoke Burger came out well done instead of medium. (We did receive a small discount on the bill to compensate for the slow service.) After the meal, we asked for the dessert menu and were told they were out of everything and they did not serve coffee or tea. So my advise to Alewife would be - "Be a bar or be a restaurant". If your goal is to satisfy the beer-lover, add more bar seating! I would give you 4 - 4.5 stars for a great bar! If you want to be a restaurant, you may need to retrain the kitchen staff to be more consistent or simplify the dishes. Given time and some care this could be one of the best restaurants in Baltimore! Also note: When traveling here - it's best to come from the East or South - the neighborhoods North and West are a little sketchy.
(3)John R.
Great experience for lunch. Bartender was attentive and knowledgeable about the great beer selection. Went back later that night and had some more beers. The place was little crazy after an O's/Red Sox game. Still, it rocked. The bartenders stayed up and the owner was a gracious host (on his birthday). Highly recommended.
(5)Katie D.
Came here for opening night. Didn't get to try any food but I was definitely impressed by the beer selection. I had two beers and the check was around $13.00 -- it does seem a little pricy, but these were good high quality beers! I hope to come back and dine in the future and I am glad to see that new businesses are popping up over on the westside.
(4)Laura K.
Excellent beer selection, and knowledgable staff which had me feeling like we were off to a great start, but things really just weren't that great overall. I will say my 3-stars is colored by the fact that I was super excited to go here and was really disappointed overall. We got the duck fat fries and they were delicious and crunchy. I had the tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons and it was delivered luke warm, it was pretty good other than that, but I wasn't blown away and am still not sure if the croutons were always soggy or if it had just been sitting before I got it. Someone else in our party got soup, it was also good, but luke warm. I lived in the south for a few years and fell in love with Shrimp and Grits as a dish, but now that I live in Delaware I never see it on menus, so when I found a restaurant near our hotel with it listed on the menu I was really excited. There are two types of shrimp and grits, one thats heavily tomato based and one that's not. I prefer it not be tomatoey and so I asked the server which it was, she said it was barbecue which (usually) has a tomato base but past that it wasn't tomato heavy. So when my meal showed up drowning in a chunky tomato sauce and it was all on top of what was much closer to a polenta than anything I've ever heard represented as grits, I was automatically very disappointed in my meal. It was ok. The shrimp was good, the polenta was good, as was the spinach, it just really wasn't what I was expecting and it was also not amazing enough to overcome that. My husband got the skirt steak and he said it was solid and tasty, but he sort of felt it also didn't blow him away and we both felt thusly, that it was a tad overpriced. The couple we were with both really enjoyed their meals, which were also more "bar food" based, and we all enjoyed the service beer selection and atmosphere. If it weren't for the pricing combined with the massive disappointment I felt with first cold soup and then inaccurate menu description, I probably would've rated it higher.
(3)Heather S.
Good looking bar, and a cool looking space. There are good fries but no decent dipping sauces, and some other interesting apps. Its a small menu, but the bar serves a really great gin, just as good as Hendricks, but something i had not had before.
(4)Jen K.
Great bar! I came here twice while in town for a conference. The first night we were regular patrons. We set up at a table and ate and drank all night long as we launched a massive new product. Food was ok. I know everyone raves about the duck fat fries, but to me they were just "eh". But the rest of the crew loved them, so I guess it was just me! Our waitress was amazing! Funny, attentive and helpful. And when a co-worker came late after the kitchen closed she even offered to go get him food. Amazeballs! We came back the second night, this time as a company renting out the facility for a conference party. We took over the entire place and the staff was amazing. For having close to 200 people there, I was amazed at how attentive the bar staff was. Everyone had a blast and the manager was very easy to work with. If we ever end up in Baltimore again for a conference and decide to host a party this would easily be my first choice!
(4)Good For The Palate R.
Alewife is worth a drive. The specialize in beer and good food. They have a decent selection of wine, and lots of cocktails. One of the best beer selections in the Baltimore/ DC area. 40 Draft Beers, plus a very long bottle list. The staff knows their beer and is opinionated, which I appreciated. They will let you try when they can't get a handle on your preferences. As of July 2011 they are implementing a Wednesday Flight Night. They are offering 10+ different options for you to try (4) 5oz portions of beer. Trivia on Mondays. The TVs make it a great place to hang out before, after, or even during a game at Oriole's or Raven's Stadiums a few blocks away. The place can be pricy but groupons are available frequently. The food is really tasty. Their Smoke Burger is now famous. But you have to try the Vegetarian Black Bean Burger. It won me over and I'm a meat eater. Interesting condiments are well matched. Not a big fan of the Cuban sandwich or the tomato soup. Love the mussels. Go for the beer, stay for the beer.
(4)Hilary C.
What a gem!! Came here after the Indycar Race and I can't believe we didn't find it sooner. Extensive and impressive beer selection for even the most german of drinkers. The house specialty burger was crazy tasty, and just the right size. I can't wait to return.
(4)Devon B.
Try the smokeburger, it's amazing. The real treat here is the beer though, tons of it, this place almost singlehandedly raises Bmore to a new level of beer availability and makes it a craft brew town.
(5)Pat Y.
what an awful experience. it is so loud it is painful. not a great place before the theater. I guess for drinking but not a pleasant conversation. ugh
(1)Henry C.
I went there on a night before an Orioles game and they were not that busy. 1) Incredibly slow service 2) The waiter got 3 out of 8 beers wrong 3) Waiter took orders from half our party and left only to come back 20 minutes later to finish taking orders 4) The floors were incredibly slippery like they had grease spilled over it 5) 2 medium-rare burgers ordered, one was well done while the other was rare. Great concept but poor execution.
(1)Michelle I.
My two friends and I headed up to Baltimore for the weekend to see Rihanna at the First Mariner Arena. The original plan was to eat somewhere near the arena before the show. Of course I researched on Yelp for the best places to eat. I love me some Maryland crabs so the first one that caught my attention was Faidley's Seafood. Having seen the Wire, the walk from our car to Faidley's was a little scary. The sidewalks were pretty much empty except for some homeless people. When we finally found the restaurant I was very disappointed to see that it was closed. A lady sitting on the curb informed us that they close at 6pm. My first thought was to hurry up and get the hell back to the arena. As we walked back to the Arena we decided to find another place to eat. Alewife just happened to be on the way back. I saw on Yelp that it got good reviews so we decided to try it out. We tried to get a table, but the hostess said that they were all booked for the evening. I thought it was a little weird they didn't at least have a waiting list for walk-ins. Luckily we were able to grab a corner of the bar to grab some drinks and food. The bartender was a little slow to take our drink and food orders, but when she did, she was friendly. I tried the Savoy cocktail (Ketel One vodka, fresh grapefruit, topped w/champagne) and it was delicious. For entrées, my friend and I decided to split the Seared Crab Cakes appetizer and the Airliner Chicken Breast. While the Crab Cakes were meaty, the flavor just wasn't there for me. The menu said it came with smoked bacon cream, but I didn't really get much of it. It probably would of helped out the crab cake. The chicken on the other hand, was delicious but really small! I think the best thing about this dish was the spanish tomato pan sauce and chipotle chive whipped potato. For kicks, I put the sauce and potato over my flavorless crab cakes, and what do you know, it was delicious! However, I think the highlight of the meal was the Duck Fat Fries! I could not stop eating them. I knew I would have to dance the entire concert to burn them off. So if I could, I would give Alewife 3.5 stars for my first experience. I know their claim to fame is the Smoke Burger, so if I visit Baltimore again, I will definitely try them again and hopefully will result in a 4 or 5 star experience.
(3)Jim D.
Went with my wife on Friday 12/30/11, prior to going to the Hippodrome across the street. Had read some reviews about the homey pub style of this place and it sounded good. We were not disappointed. We had the smoked 11oz. hamburger with the duck fat fries. Delicious! The burger was cooked perfectly and the combination of the top quality beef, with the grilled onions and the bacon on top was a real treat. We ended up trying a few of the many brews they have on tap...the best of which was the Dogfish Head Bitch's Brew special...a stout...The wait staff was good and the atmosphere was perfect for our night out.
(4)Eric J.
Food was ok. Beer selection was excellent!
(3)Marcel H.
Their selection of beer is Good, and varies with time. Atmosphere is great, food is good too. The mug-club is a rip-off. You will have to finish in a year and spend an average of $40-50 per week. That is just too steep...
(4)Dianna P.
Great food and very friendly staff. The boar meatballs are excellent as a light meal.
(4)Eric E.
Stopped in and had a draft beer. The place isn't really noticeable from the street so keep your eyes peeled for the sign. The stout I had was delicious. The atmosphere was typical of an English pub, cool in some ways and nothing special in other ways. It was very loud in there and hard to have a conversation. I did not order food but did try some "duck fat French fries". They fry them in duck fat which is supposed to give them a much more flavorful and moist taste. I didn't really notice a difference other than they were just flat out awesome fries. I believe they were fresh cut too. The dipping sauce was different and a very good compliment to the fries. I'd go back but not out of my way to do it.
(3)MissEasy T.
I go here for 2 reasons: 1) Tap lineup consistently awesome and 2) I can get there via lightrail, consume a few high octane brews and get home safely (and cheaply). If not for these 2 compelling reasons, I would not bother. Food is slightly above average pub fare and bartenders spend most of their time chatting with regulars, friends and other staff members. They don't seem to care to chat w/ non-regulars and are not enthusiastic about beer. They do not constantly scan the customers seated at the bar to monitor their consumption or anticipate their needs or to just seize and opportunity to be friendly. When asked for beer suggestions, they will offer input but again, not w/ much enthusiasm. Unfortunately, bartending seems to be a dying art in Baltimore and restaurants have forgotten that a really friendly, knowledgable bartender who works at cultivating regulars can be just as much a draw as a great selection of beer and/or good food!
(3)Brian M.
My friend and I walked to The Alewife before an O's game. I had high hopes but was disappointed. I had the smoke burger and it wasn't as great as the reviews led me to believe. I would call it mediocre at best. The high price makes me want to deem it a total failure as a burger. It was lacking flavor and dry. The burger appeared thick but when the bun was removed I could see that it was a mm thin throughout the center. I ordered the duck fat fries and I believe they were regular fries, not well cooked, with some garlic and herbs sprinkled on them. I've had duck fat fries several times and these weren't it. The beer selection is vast but the 4 beers we tried tasted like the tap lines had soured or maybe the glasses had a funky taste? I don't know. The bartender was friendly and knowledgeable and provided us with good service. The food seemed to take a long time to reach us even though It was a Thursday at 4PM and we were the only ones there. My friend ordered the "fish and chips". The fish was well prepared and tasty. The "chips" turned out to be fried yucca strips, which normally I enjoy, but these were nearly dehydrated and greasy. My friend did not eat them. I'm not a picky eater but I did not enjoy this restaurant and wouldn't go back.
(2)Aminah F.
VERY IMPRESSED. Great service, great selection of beer and amazing pub fare. Their rockfish is delicious.
(4)Tommy F.
The food was excellent, they had an awesome selection of craft beers and the service was good considering that liberal Canadian d-bag was in town. Great place to stop in and grub!
(5)Danielle K.
I've only had the black bean burger and fries here - which are actually very good. It's a good place for beer, but I really like their cocktails as well. I only give this place 3-stars because despite the food and drink being good, they're pricey and the service is blah.
(3)Zoey M.
Awesome space, love the look of the place. Beer selection on tap is impressive and so is the bottle list. I've never actually gotten a bottle because they have so many choices on tap. I feel that the drafts are priced well too. Service is sometimes slow on a busy night but every member of the staff is personable and fun. Some of the food is almost brilliant flavor-wise. There are a few misses along the way but the chef is open to experimentation so that goes with the territory. The menu can get pricey but it's really far above your usual pub grub. I do wish they had more choices on the red meat heavy menu that didn't have pork or beef but I'm sure I'm in the minority. Also, the chef has got to stop covering everything in greens. They taste great and are pretty but are so tangled it's almost impossible to eat unless you want the whole wad in your mouth. Overall, a great place to hang out and spend a few hours trying some good beer.
(4)Brian F.
Alewife is a classic case of a potentially great location ruined by poor implementation. I took my family there right before a show at the Hippodrome... what I expected was a great beer selection and good food. What I found was quite possibly the worst service I've had in Baltimore (50min to get a sandwich), mediocre food, and it's namesake... ales... are an enigma to the staff. We love to try new things and beers are one of them... but if you're going to have an esoteric selection you had better staff your place with people who know an ale from a lager, a pale ale from a belgian, and be able to answer a wife's question such as "what do you have in a slightly sweet amber" with a better answer than... "I don't know, I don't really like beer" (I'm SERIOUS). Avoid Alewife, there are much better choices in the area. Maybe try back in a few years if they survive... which they may simply due to the location being across the street from the Hippodrome.
(1)Andy F.
More beers than Pratt Street, Brewer's Art, etc. A great selection with something for everyone. The food was solid too. I enjoyed the kobe beef hotdog! The bartender was a great conversation and the interior was very intriguing. The surrounding area isn't overly nice to walk through, but you can get around this by walking southeast on your way out.
(5)Jessica L.
I went to Alewife the other night and was blown away by the incredible food, awesome drink menu, and excellent service. The place had a great vibe - people were there celebrating a birthday, celebrating someone's conquering of the 150 beer list, and generally having a great time. I had the best burger I've ever had along with risotto cakes, fish tacos, and much more. I recommend going there with a group, all ordering different things and splitting so you can try as many things as possible. I can't wait to go back the next time I'm in Baltimore!
(5)C W.
if i was to rate the bar, it might've been 5 stars...but for the restaurant, they definitely get just 1. Our burger came out raw...we asked for medium and it still looked like raw ground beef and fell/flaked apart like raw ground meat, it was disgusting.
(3)Jonathan H.
As a graduate student who lives nearby, I have been desperate for someone to take over the space that Alewife now occupies and reinvigorate it. My prayers have been answered! The Place: Located in what appears to be an old bank near the Hippodrome, Alewife has an open concept with giant chalk-boards that serve as menus detailing the ever-changing assortment of beers available on tap and by the bottle. The main room is dark, not quiet--think Cheers, but with a higher ceiling. There is also at least one other side room that would be good to use as a meeting/private happy hour room. While the decor could be more complete, the place opened recently, so I'm giving them a pass for now. The beer: 40 beers. On tap. Need I say more? I don't need to, but I will. This beer menu doesn't feature your traditional Baltimore fare of Boh, Miller Lite, and Boston Lager. What it does feature is some great local and not-so-local beer. If you're like me, you don't spend your time researching all 40 beers. Waive any one of the waitstaff over and they'll help you out. Tell them what you like and they'll be able to point you in the right direction. Still not sure? Ask for a free taste to try before you buy. While looking up at the chalkboard may get annoying, a server assured me that printed menus were in the works. Oh, and did I mention the bottled beer selection is also huge? The food: If you've ever tried to get a bite to eat near Camden Yards at a good restaurant, then you'll understand why I think Alewife is such a necessary addition to the neighborhood. So far I've tried the smoke burger, and the cubano. I echo the comments that appear elsewhere on the smoke burger (one of the top 10 burgers I've had), and will say that the cubano was tasty, crispy, and wonderful. I wished the salad accompanying the cubano had a little more to it, but that's a nit that should be worked out as the kitchen gets its legs under itself. My other minor quibble is with the tempura fennel frites--at $6, the portion size should be bigger. That being said, they were really tasty. The service: As I said above, the staff is very eager to help you out when deciding over beer. This helpfulness extends to food as well. My water glass is always full throughout my stay and they're happy to hang around or stay away. In short, they do exactly what someone who's running a gastropub like this should do when running the front of the house. I sincerely hope that Alewife stays around. My feeling is that if they keep it up, they will.
(5)Mike W.
Alewife is great! My wife and I recently ate here for a birthday dinner. I had the fillet, she had the kobe beef hot dog. Both were delicious. The hot dog was served in a pretzel roll with buffalo chili and three kinds of handmade mustard. It could not have been better. The fillet could have had a little more flavor, but was cooked well and delicious. But the real reason one goes to Alewife is for the beer. I had the Stone Brewery's Levitation and then the Evolution IPA. When I was uncertain or unfamiliar with a beer choice, the waitstaff was informative and would even bring out a shot for tasting. I'll keep coming back to Alewife as often as I have the opportunity.
(5)sarah b.
the food pisses me off and the female bartender will serve every man before ever making eye contact with any females waiting to order (not just me, seriously). that being said, i cannot find a better IPA selection in this town so i will keep going back.
(4)Alicyn D.
Two friends and I went here on Tuesday night, prior to seeing Jersey Boys at The Hippodrome. I made a reservation, knowing full well they would probably get a lot of theater traffic. We were sat fairly quickly and had a great seat in the window. For drinks, I had the Delirium Tremens and my friends had the Baltimore Seasonal and Castro's Passion cocktails. All were delicious. For dinner I had the Alewife Salad (one of the best starter salads I've ever had! Asparagus, Greens, Pears, and Bleu Cheese), the Tuna Tartare Appetizer (delicious and great quality), and an order of Duck Fat Fries for the table (crisp and tasty). My friends both had the salad too, the Smoke Burger (I heard it was tasty) and the Cuban Sandwich (I heard it was good as well). We couldn't stop talking about the food after we left. The service was good too. I will definitely come back here, even when not going to a show. I love the atmosphere, the food, and especially love the beer selection! I since paid a visit here and had the Crab Deviled Eggs as an appetizer - interesting but good. I also had the Smoke House Burger (An 11oz House Ground Ribeye, Brisket, Skirt and Filet of Beef Burger, Smoked Gouda, Gruyere Cheese, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Cipollini Onion, Chipotle Aioli, Brioche Bun) which was OUT OF THIS WORLD! If you love burgers, you must try this.
(4)Jess F.
I thought that I was really going to LOVE Alewife, but was majorly disappointed. To give credit where it is due, the space is fantastic- just as great as when it was Maggie Moore's. The beer list is phenomenal, and the menu is exciting. However, we went on a Tuesday night at 8 pm and while it was busy (likely due to groupon/living social coupons expiring the next day) it wasn't like it was a full house. Our drinks arrived in a timely manner, but we waited an hour for our appetizer (which it should be pointed out was only a bowl of soup- a pretty good one, actually). Then, we waited over another hour for our food. The waitress kept assuring us it would be just a few more minutes (through no fault of her own, I should point out), but the kitchen just didn't have it together. The table of two next to us, who were seated at the same time we were, were already finished were their food (ironically, they placed the same order we did) at that point. As it had been 2 hours and 15 minutes since we were seated, we politely asked the waitress if we could just pay for the drinks/soup and be on our way. At 10:15, we had little interest left in even eating the long awaited food. She asked if we'd be interested in at least taking the food to-go, on the house (which seemed fair). The smoke burger and the Kobe beef hot dog were just okay- although I suspect that being packaged up and steaming in the to-go boxes took away from what they might have been otherwise. The duck-fat fries were not in fact duck-fat fries, or at least were nothing like any duck-fat fries we've ever had previously. Was the food bad? No. Was it fabulous? No. I'd absolutely go back for beers, but doubt I'd be ordering food (as good as it sounds on the menu) unless I had lots of time to kill waiting around for it.
(2)Andrea F.
Good food and excellent beer list but man is it SLOW service!!!
(3)